Water there is about 10 to 12 feet but deep, but deep enough to drown.
Witnesses say the 19 and 20-year-old tourists were taking pictures on the Central Park pond when the thin ice gave way, sending them into the frigid water.
"They both went under and one kid got out right away, the other stayed submerged for about 10 minutes," said Patrick Killip, a witness.
Eyewitness photos show the man trying desperately to claw his way out of the water.
A police officer also fell through the ice trying to rescue him.
Minutes later, Firefighter Matt Murphy went in wearing a wet suit and plucked them out of the icy waters around 2 p.m. Tuesday afternoon near 60th and 5th.
The highly trained firefighter showed Eyewitness News how he used a life ring to save them.
"You wear it like this and then you put it on the person like this and pull them out," Murphy said.
Fire Lieutenant Tony Tarabocchia says they practice these rescues all the time, doing this exact drill just last week.
But he says the hardest part is getting people to understand it's dangerous to walk on the ice.
"There are signs all over the place in Central Park," Tarabocchia said.
LINK: VIEWER PICTURES
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