News Copter7 captured the dramatic rescue as it played out Friday night in Oradell, New Jersey.
The teenagers were rescued Friday night after becoming stranded on an island in Oradell, New Jersey, when thin ice prevented them from safely returning to shore.
Authorities said the teens had walked across the frozen creek to reach the island, but realized the ice was too unstable to cross again. Rather than risk falling through, they called for help.
The Fire Department says the teenage boys were calm and collected when they reached them, but the rescue could have been a lot more difficult if the ice broke.
Cold, alone and in the dark is how Oradell first responders found the teenagers just before 5:30 p.m., stranded on an island in a park, and fearful to walk back across the frozen Hackensack River.
"The ice was cracking around them," volunteer firefighter John Haak said.
The rescue team said they deployed an ice sled, water rescue truck and grabbed one victim at a time.
The Oradell firefighters immediately checked the condition of the two boys before carefully sliding them back to main land.
"Because they were nice, clean, dry and safe we can slow things down and do things very exacting - if they were in really bad shape we could ditch the sled and there's way to tie them to a rope go out grab them and pull yourself back in," Haak said.
With frigid conditions and parts of the river 6 to 8 feet deep, that was the best possible outcome.
It was Tamas Kellermann's first ice rescue.
"Being back on the mainland - it was like a big sigh of relief like okay no ice broke," Kellermann said.
Rich Ryen was in charge of holding the ropes tethered to the victims and other rescuers who were ready to pull them out.
"I'm just making sure everything goes smooth and if something is wrong I step in but other than that all the guys were doing their job they needed to do," Ryen said.
The two teenagers may have gotten a little wet during the rescue, but they went home safe and sound and even took a selfie with the firefighters who rescued them.
Officials again warned the public that ice on local waterways may look solid but can be dangerously thin, especially during fluctuating winter temperatures.