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by DOUG AUER
A 27-year-old West Brighton man died early this morning after he apparently fell into the north reservoir basin in Silver Lake Park, police said.
At 11:38 p.m., Theodore Pomianowski, of the 1400 block of Richmond Terrace, was attempting to get a bag that had fallen into the water when he himself fell in, according to Sgt. John Grimpel, a police spokesman.
"He never resurfaced on his own," said Grimpel.
Pomianowski was found and pulled from the north reservoir basin -- the one closest to Forest Avenue -- by a scuba diver from Rescue Co. 5, Concord, at 12:06 a.m., a Fire Department Press spokesman said.
The man was rushed to St. Vincent's Hospital, West Brighton, at 12:19 a.m., the fire spokesman added.
Pomianowski was pronounced dead at 12:30 a.m., said Grimpel, who added that the death does not appear to be a suicide attempt.
Lt. Phil Solimeo of Rescue 5 attributed Pomianowski's recovery to FDNY diver Daniel Baron.
"Within minutes of getting here we had a diver in the water," said Solimeo. "[Baron] found the guy within five minutes."
Baron likened the recovery effort to swimming in a cup of coffee. The murky water reaches up to 50 feet in depth, Advance records show.
"I'm swimming head down, away from the shore," he said. "I'm blind down there, so I feel with my hands."
Baron said his feet hit what he thought was someone's body not far from the bridge. When he pulled closer to what seemed like an unidentifiable mass, hair passed his scuba mask.
"That's how I knew it was a person," he said.
Baron explained that a search diver is weighed down to be able to descend rapidly. A safety rope is tied to his body, controlled by his fellow firefighters above the water.
"We have to overcome the weight," he said, referring to the ascent to the surface with the weight of a recovered body added to his own.
Firefighters helped pull him up, as well as Pomianowski, who was wearing pants and a T-shirt, Baron said.
Shortly after the victim was recovered, police were seen carrying away a soaked black messenger bag with "Ted Pomianowski" written on top in white block lettering. Inside appeared to be a brown paper bag and an umbrella.
Seven teens who were being interviewed by the authorities said they were hanging out on the bridge when Pomianowski passed by.
Moments later, "He somehow fell in," one youth, who did not wish to be identified, told the Advance.
"The guys did a super job," said Deputy Chief Richard Howe of Division 8. According to Howe, it took less than 20 minutes from when the alarm sounded until Pomianowski was pulled from the reservoir.
"That's a quick time for this type of operation," said Howe, visibly pleased with firefighters' efforts.
Responding fire units also included Battalion 21, Ladder Co. 78, Engine Cos. 153 and 156, Battalion Special Operations and Tactical Support 2.
TAC 2 used a small water craft and high-powered searchlights to assist in the search.
Also present was NYPD's Air Sea Rescue helicopter, Emergency Services Units, and police officers and detectives from the North Shore's 120th Precinct.
Advance records show that the last body to be recovered from the Silver Lake reservoir was that of 21-year-old James Sweeney in 1997. Sweeney, of Stapleton, was recovered clad only in briefs and without a wallet. He was identified through his fingerprints. Investigators said the death was not suspicious.
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