Nico Hischier is having a great July. It started on the first day of NHL Free Agency, where Sunny Mehta secured his biggest win of his early tenure. Hischier signed a five-year extension that will pay him just under $12 million per season. The Devils’ captain was a part of some early rumors that teams were calling about his availability, but Hischier immediately committed to his team.
After signing the contract, Hischier returned to his hometown of Bern, Switzerland. While he might have thought he would have a relaxing time before training for the 2026-27 season begins, the excitement has followed him home. According to German newspaper 20 Minuten, Hischier helped a family whose inflatable boat was sinking in the Aare River.
People who watched the rescue called Hischier’s involvement “heroic” and said he was helping to pull the family out of the river. The waters were considered dangerous, but Hischier reportedly made it a point to help the family out.
"In this situation, everyone is grateful for support, and we were all relieved that no one was hurt in the end."Nico Hischier to 20 Minuten
The story gained traction after New Jersey Devils writer Amanda Stein shared it on his social media accounts. She calls this the “most Nico Hischier story of all time.”
Nico Hischier is credited with a rescue for stepping in to help a family on the river in Switzerland
What an incredible story coming out of Switzerland this morning!#NJDevils captain Nico Hischier helped rescue a family in distress on the Aare River in Bern.
— Amanda Stein (@amandacstein) July 9, 2026
A family with two children ran into trouble when their inflatable boat became stranded near a dam, prompting a police…
This is an incredible story for Hischier, who had only been home a few days at the time of the rescue. We have not heard how Hischier came upon the family, but knowing Hischier's makeup, it’s not terribly surprising that he jumped in to help. We know how he’s shown up for the Devils philanthropy and always puts others before himself.
We can't wait for Nico Hischier to return to New Jersey so we can all ask for more details on his "heroic" actions! With so many athletes getting into trouble in the offseason, it's great to be a Devils fan where our players are saving lives in the offseason.
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