What would you do? Dad rescues daughter, 2, after she falls into East River.

This is one of those really well-written pieces that manage to communicate the adrenalin rush of the moment we all fear. The scream from the spouse that something horrible has happened. Your few seconds to react, and react correctly to save the person you love more than anything in the world. This dad, luckily, did everything right and made a quick rescue from the icy April waters of New York City’s East River. Quite a tale, and a vacation memory they all could have lived without.

A California dad dived into the frigid East River and rescued his 2-year-old daughter Saturday after she plunged 20 feet from a historic boat docked at the South Street Seaport.

Witnesses heard a splash, then a terrifying scream.

A moment later, the father, David Anderson, was racing down the deck of the four-masted Peking ship, emptying his pockets along the way.

Click for photos: California dad makes heroic rescue of daughter, 2, after she falls 20 feet off ramp into East River]