A somber incident took place at Washington Park Lake in Albany, upstate New York, where a 12-year-old boy tragically lost his life after falling through the ice. His companion, an 11-year-old girl who bravely attempted to rescue him, was critically injured and hospitalized.
The two children were at the lake on a Saturday afternoon, around 4:30 p.m., when the mishap occurred. The boy, trying to walk across the frozen surface of the lake, unfortunately fell through the ice. In a courageous act, the girl followed him in an effort to help but was also pulled into the icy water.
Emergency services, including Albany police officers and firefighters, responded swiftly to the scene. They managed to rescue the girl, who was then rushed to Albany Medical Center Hospital, where she remains in critical condition.
Despite the rapid response, the boy’s situation ended tragically. A New York State Police dive team was deployed, and by approximately 7:30 p.m., they recovered his body from the lake.
Albany Mayor Kathy Sheehan commented on the incident, expressing her surprise at how far the children managed to venture onto the thin ice. She underscored the importance of community awareness regarding the dangers of walking on frozen bodies of water, stating, “It’s just a reminder of how fragile life can be and how important it is that we ensure that our children know and that everyone in our community knows that venturing out onto the ice is not a safe thing to do on any of the bodies of water here.”
This heartbreaking event serves as a stark warning about the potential dangers of winter activities near water bodies. Community members are urged to exercise caution and educate themselves and their children about the risks associated with icy conditions.
Source: Apnews
