NHL Captain Nico Hischier Rescues Family in Switzerland

New Jersey Devils captain Nico Hischier, the 2017 first‑overall NHL draft pick, was boating near the Engehalde (Engehard) Weir dam close to Bern, Switzerland, when he saw a family of two adults and two children struggling in an inflatable raft being pulled toward the dam. Hischier intervened, helping the family get to safety without injury and acknowledging the assistance of first responders. He described the incident as a “team effort” and expressed relief that no one was hurt.

The rescue occurred during the NHL offseason, and shortly before the incident the Devils had signed Hischier to a five‑year contract extension worth $11.7 million per year, set to begin after the current season.