The frozen pond at Springfield Park is picturesque on a sunny, winter day, but danger was lurking on Friday afternoon when the ice broke, and a child fell in - right before Alex Smith's eyes.
"I was like 'oh my God, oh my God, I need to go help him,' right? The first thing I jumped to was help him - I didn't even call the police or nothing, I just instantly ran to help him," Smith said.
The 14-year-old thought on his feet before any of the first responders arrived. He said he quickly spotted a nearby safety ladder and slid it out to the boy whose head was barely above the icy water.
"Children came to the firehouse door, frantically banging on the door, reporting that a kid had fallen through the ice next door," said FDNY Deputy Assistant Chief Tim Keenan.
Fortunately, the firefighters from Engine 311 Ladder 158 were able to reach the park on foot and begin the ice rescue, which they had trained for that very day.
"About halfway out onto the ice, the ice gave way, and I went into the water," said probationary firefighter Shaun McMahon.
McMahon, in his cold-water suit, did not panic or back down.
"It was definitely cold, but I mean all I really had thoughts of was getting to this kid - because regardless if I was cold or not, he was even colder. I just knew that I had to get out there, I had to secure him, so he doesn't go underwater," McMahon said.
The boy was rescued from the frozen water, put into an ambulance and covered in blankets to prevent any future symptoms of hypothermia. It took about a dozen firefighters, including McMahon's partner, Firefighter Hanley, who tethered a rope, to help pull his fellow firefighter and the victim to safety.
There was also Smith - the unsung hero.
"It feels good, yeah, it feels really good," he said.
The FDNY used the opportunity to remind people not to walk on ice. It is hard to tell how thick or thin it is until you are in the water. In this case, the boy was in very cold water for approximately ten minutes, clinging to the ice to avoid drowning.
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