Cambridge firefighter Cameron Monagle recently proved a good firefighter is never off duty.
"You always have to do the right thing, help your neighbors, help someone who may be having a bad day," Monagle said.
He was on the Charles River boating with his family when he saw a man jump from the Mass Avenue Bridge.
Monagle's girlfriend pulled the boat up alongside the man so he could help.
"Basically, I put a life ring around his arms and almost tied him to the boat as tight as I could so he couldn't go under," Monagle said. "He was fighting me a little bit, which made it a lot tougher. I knew I had to hold on to him until help got there."
Monagle's actions got the attention of the Cambridge fire chief, who formally commended him for the Sept. 8 rescue.