New York City Park Tragedy

12-Year-Old Boy Dead, 11-Year-Old Girl in Critical Condition After Falling Through Ice in Washington Square Park

A 12-year-old boy is dead, and an 11-year-old girl is in critical condition after they fell through a sheet of ice at Washington Square Park on Sunday afternoon.

According to NBC News, police responded to reports of multiple children falling through a sheet of ice near the park’s lake house around 4:35 p.m. Officials were able to locate the girl, who was transported to Albany Medical Center Hospital and remains in critical condition.

An underwater recovery team dispatched by the NYPD later retrieved the boy’s body. The identities of the victims have not yet been released.

Albany police believe that the 12-year-old fell through the ice while attempting to walk toward the lakehouse, and the 11-year-old fell in while trying to assist him. The Albany City School District confirmed that both children were students at North Albany Middle School.

Superintendent Joseph Hochreiter expressed sympathy, stating: “Our hearts go out to the families of these students at this incredibly difficult time. This is a terrible tragedy, and we are grieving as a school community.” The district has announced that crisis services will be available to students and staff when classes resume on Monday.

Albany Fire Chief Joseph Gregory spoke to the Times Union about the dangers of icy conditions, emphasizing that such incidents are rare but preventable. “It’s been many years since we had something similar to this type of episode. Hopefully, people will follow the rules and stay off the ice,” he said.

Albany Mayor Kathy Sheehan also addressed the tragedy, offering her condolences. “My thoughts are with the families of both young residents involved in the deadly incident at Washington Park Lake,” she said.

She added, “Yesterday was a tragic reminder of how dangerous any body of water can be, especially as the weather gets colder and thin ice forms. I want to thank all of the first responders who worked tirelessly last night in an attempt to save two young lives, and I also want to thank the New York State Police Dive Team for assisting with recovery operations.”

Fire Chief Gregory provided safety advice to avoid similar incidents in the future. He explained that there is no precise measurement of ice thickness that guarantees safety, and that fluctuating temperatures make ice surfaces unstable.

Gregory warned that slush ice—ice with slushy or wet patches on top—is particularly dangerous because it is only half as strong as solid, clear ice and does not freeze properly from the bottom.

In the event of a fall through ice, Gregory recommended the following:

1. Call 911 immediately.
2. Attempt to reach the victim from shore using items like a rope, jumper cables, or a sturdy branch.
3. If unable to reach them safely, seek help rather than venturing out onto the ice.
4. Ensure the victim receives immediate medical attention as soon as possible.

His advice underscores the importance of caution and preparedness in winter conditions to prevent further tragedies.

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