Nesconset firefighters, good Samaritans pull father and son from icy pond
Officials said no one was aware the father and son were on the pond until nearby resident Bradley Fils-Aine heard their cries for help coming from the water.
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A father and his 13-year-old son are recovering after a dramatic rescue Sunday afternoon, when they fell through the ice at Gibbs Pond and spent nearly 30 minutes in frigid, waist-deep water before being pulled to safety.
Nesconset Fire Chief Daniel Madden said the pair narrowly avoided tragedy as temperatures hovered around 16 degrees at the time of the incident, which occurred at around 2 p.m.
“They are extremely lucky, especially with the conditions,” Madden said.
Officials said no one was aware the father and son were on the pond until nearby resident Bradley Fils-Aine heard their cries for help coming from the water.
“My first reaction was just to help them,” Bradley said.
Bradley immediately notified his father, John Fils-Aine, an off-duty FDNY lieutenant, who called 911 and rushed to the scene. Along with a park ranger, they were able to pull the teenage boy out of the icy water.
Nesconset firefighters arrived soon after and used a ladder to safely rescue the father.
Both victims were treated at the scene for hypothermia before being transported to a local hospital.
“They were very cold,” Madden said. “We got them onto the ambulance, wrapped them up, treated them for hypothermia, and transferred them both.”
The rescue took place during the height of the winter storm, when few people were outdoors — a factor officials say could have had deadly consequences if the cries for help had gone unheard.
“If he didn’t act on it and nobody heard those two in the back, you never know what could have happened,” John Fils-Aine said, referring to his son’s quick response.
Authorities say both the father and son are now in stable condition. Fire officials are urging residents to stay off frozen ponds and lakes, warning that ice can be dangerously unstable no matter how solid it may appear.
