A tragedy struck Albany, New York, when two young children lost their lives after falling through thin ice at Washington Park Lake. This heartbreaking incident happened on December 7, 2024, involving a brave 12-year-old boy and an 11-year-old girl.
On that fateful day, the boy decided to cross the frozen lake to reach the lake house, but the ice was much thinner than it looked. He fell through the icy surface, and in a courageous act of friendship, the girl rushed to help him. Sadly, she also fell into the freezing water.
Emergency services were called to the scene around 4:35 p.m. They worked quickly and managed to pull the girl out of the water, rushing her to Albany Medical Center Hospital. Despite their efforts, she tragically succumbed to her injuries on December 10. Meanwhile, during a secondary search, the New York State Police underwater recovery team found the boy’s body in the lake.
The Albany Police Department expressed their heartfelt condolences in a statement, saying, “The Albany Police Department extends its heartfelt condolences and support to the families and friends of both children during this difficult time.” Due to their young ages, the police did not release the children’s names.
Both children were students at North Albany Middle School, which is part of the City School District of Albany. Following the boy’s death, the school district quickly released a statement to inform students and staff about available crisis services to help them cope with the tragedy.
After the girl’s passing, the district shared even more resources to support the grieving school community.
Superintendent Joseph Hochreiter shared his sorrow in a heartfelt message to the community, saying, “Our school community was heartbroken yet again Tuesday to learn that the second North Albany Middle School student involved in Saturday’s tragic accident in Washington Park has died.
Our hearts go out to the family of this student, who gave their life trying to save their friend. We will remember that selfless courage even as we mourn another unimaginable loss.”
In response to this heartbreaking incident, the city took immediate action by installing “Keep Off the Ice” signs around Washington Park to prevent further accidents. Albany Mayor Kathy Sheehan spoke about the dangers of walking on frozen bodies of water, especially when the ice is so thin.
“Two young people ventured out onto the ice. It was very thin. It was shocking they made it as far out into the lake as they did,” she said. Sheehan urged the community to stay alert and reminded everyone, “It’s just a reminder of how fragile life can be and how important it is that we ensure that our children and everyone in our community know venturing out onto the ice is not safe.”
The tragic loss of these two young lives has left the Albany community in deep mourning, especially during what is usually one of the happiest times of the year. People across the city have come together to support each other, sharing memories of the children and reflecting on the importance of safety during the winter months.
As the community grieves, many are finding comfort in each other, holding vigils and sharing stories about the bright futures that were cut short. The spirit of these two children, who showed such bravery and friendship, will always be remembered in Albany.
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