KEY POINTS
- A specialized NYPD helicopter crew pulled three men from the freezing waters of Jamaica Bay after they fell through thin ice.
- The victims, all approximately 22 years old, were walking across the frozen surface in Queens before the ice gave way.
- Emergency teams from the FDNY and NYPD coordinated the high-stakes rescue as witnesses reported the group was panicking and calling for help.
Rescuers in New York City performed a daring operation on Friday afternoon to save three individuals from a life-threatening situation. The incident occurred in Jamaica Bay near the Far Rockaway section of Queens. Emergency dispatchers received urgent calls around 4:15 p.m. reporting people in the water.
The three young men had reportedly been walking across the frozen bay surface. Witnesses watched in horror as the ice suddenly fractured. This left the group submerged in the frigid, 36-degree water. Local residents noted that they had previously warned the men about the dangers of the thin ice.
The NYPD Aviation Unit arrived quickly to find the victims struggling to stay afloat. A rescue helicopter hovered low over the bay to begin the extraction process. One by one, the crew lifted the men from the water using a hoist system. The operation was complicated by the freezing temperatures and the unstable nature of the remaining ice.
One victim had been in the water for nearly 40 minutes by the time he was reached. Footage of the rescue showed him appearing nearly motionless due to the extreme cold. A member of the rescue team briefly fell into the water during the struggle but managed to continue the mission.
The FDNY and the NYPD Scuba Team assisted on the ground and in the water. After the successful extraction, all three victims were rushed to local medical facilities. Two were taken to Mount Sinai South Nassau Hospital, while the third went to St. John’s Episcopal Hospital.
Medical officials listed the men in stable condition following the ordeal. Saltwater ice is famously unpredictable because of moving currents beneath the surface. Authorities reminded the public that even during long cold snaps, bay ice remains thin and hazardous.
The successful mission highlights the vital coordination between New York City’s air and sea emergency units. Without the rapid arrival of the helicopter, the outcome could have been tragic. Officials continue to urge residents to stay off all frozen bodies of water as temperatures fluctuate.
