Mike Hudson, a “pillar” of ocean rescue in New Jersey and around the world, is being mourned after his sudden passing.
Hudson was 53 years old.
He was known for his larger-than-life personality that included being the aquatic stunt safety coordinator for MTV’s “Jackass” team and for Discovery Channel’s Shark Week.
Hudson was a technical rescue contributor for Fire Engineering and had a recurring column in JEMS. He also taught hands-on water rescue seminars at FDIC International and JEMS Con.
“Chief Hudson was the pillar of Ocean Rescue, a true waterman,” a post on the Sea Bright Fire Rescue Facebook page reads. “His commitment and efforts lead Sea Bright to be on the forefront of modern day surf lifesaving. We stand together with our brothers and sisters of Sea Bright Ocean Rescue during this difficult time.”
Hudson, a former Navy Corpsman and military special operations medical instructor, was one of the last of the original City of San Diego paramedics. He spent more than eighteen years traveling the country leading rescue teams in Wyoming and in the Colorado Rockies and supervising technical ocean lifeguard programs on both the east and west coasts.
During the winter, he worked the streets of central New Jersey and the Jersey Shore as a mobile intensive care paramedic. In addition to coordinating shark diving safety operations for Shark Week, Hudson did the same for the BBC and National Geographic’s Shark Fest.
He also provided COVID containment services for Guy Fieri’s Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, and got Fieri to film at a number of Mike’s favorite “dives” down at the Jersey Shore.
Fieri took to Instagram to honor his late friend.
“Lost a brother, a friend, a big part of the (Triple D) family,” Fieri wrote. “Mike always took care of everyone first no matter who they were. We say goodbye to one of the GREATEST today. RIP Mike Hudson.”
On the passing of #FDIC HOT instructor and Fire Engineering and JEMS writer Mike Hudson RIP and God Bless pic.twitter.com/Xyqqb4xt45
— Bobby Halton (@BobbyHalton) August 12, 2022
Bobby Halton, Fire Engineering Editor in Chief and FDIC Educational Director, said Hudson was new to teaching at the conference, but left his mark.
“He did the surface water rescue class that we endearingly called ‘underwater ballet.’ It was probably the highest-rated class we had all last year,” Halton said. “So, from all of our family out there, and everybody at FDIC, god bless you Mike, and we’ll see you on the other side.”
MORE MIKE HUDSON
- Water Rescue Tradecraft: In-Water Mouth-to-Mouth Ventilations, Risk vs. Efficacy
- Water Rescue Tradecraft: Failsafe Arm Signals for Water Rescue Ops
- Water Rescue Tradecraft: The Sea Bright Tourniquet Technique
- Fundamentals of Open Water Lifesaving: Rescue and Resuscitation of a Drowning Victim
- Fundamentals of Open Water Rescue
