New London - A man who tumbled into the water and went under at Waterfront Park in downtown New London Thursday afternoon was rescued by a man who dove in and pulled his friend up, keeping him above water until emergency crews arrived.

Fernando Lugo of Naugatuck was at the pier with friends when Phil Curry, who was napping on a nearby bench, fell over the side, according to Lugo and others. Lugo and other witnesses said they heard Curry, 51, yelling from underneath the pier, then nothing.

Lugo said he first walked up and down the pier looking for Curry and then dove into the water, feeling around under the surface until he felt Curry and pulled him above water. Lugo said he grabbed onto a pylon and held on until emergency crews arrived.

"'Keep on breathing,' I told him, 'Just keep on breathing,'" Lugo said in an interview at the pier.

According to Lugo and others, the pair clung to the pylon for about five minutes. Crews threw a life preserver into the water, Lugo said, he put Curry onto it, and Curry was hoisted back up to the pier.

Lugo said crews asked him if he needed help, but he told them he could swim back, and did.

Curry was taken to Lawrence & Memorial Hospital where he was listed in good condition Thursday afternoon.

Fire crews from Bank Street station, a ladder truck from Broad Street station, the 2nd Engineer company and the EMS unit all responded.