A 12-year-old boy has died and an 11-year-old girl is in critical condition after falling through the ice at a park in Albany, New York, authorities said Sunday.
Albany police said They responded to a report of two children who had fallen through the ice at Washington Park Lake late Saturday afternoon. Officers found an 11-year-old girl who was treated at the scene and taken to Albany Medical Center Hospital in critical condition.
Later, members of the New York State Police Underwater Recovery Team searched the lake and the boy's body was recovered from the lake at approximately 7:25 pm.
Investigators believe the boy tried to walk toward the lake house on the north side of the lake and fell through the ice, and the girl who saw him fall tried to help. “She apparently followed the same path of travel across the lake, where she also fell through the ice,” police said.
Both children are students at North Albany Middle School, the district confirmed Social media post.
“Our thoughts are with the families of these students during this incredibly difficult time,” Superintendent Joseph Hochreiter said in a statement. “This is a terrible tragedy and we are grieving as a school community.”
according to New York Department of Environmental ProtectionWashington Park Lake is spread over 5 acres and has an average depth of 6.6 feet and a maximum depth of 11 feet.
Erica Scheer, who did not know the children, told CBS affiliate WRGB-TV That she had come to the lake on Sunday to honor him.
“Well, I decided I would take a walk here to pay my respects to the spot where it happened and pray for the young boy and young girl and their families who were injured in the accident yesterday and wish them well. ” Sheer told the police station.