Long Island Ice Rescue: Boy Saved by Suffolk County Heroes
- An 8-year-old boy from Long Island, New York, who fell into an icy pond on christmas Day, December 25th, reunited with the officers who rescued him on Friday,...
- The incident occurred around 1:00 PM when the boy was playing on the ice of a pond located within the Heatherwood Lakeside Village apartment complex in East Patchogue,...
- A resident nearby observed the boy struggling in the water and instantly contacted 911,reporting that the child was unable to extricate himself.
Long Island Boy Reunites with Officers Who Saved Him From Icy Pond
An 8-year-old boy from Long Island, New York, who fell into an icy pond on christmas Day, December 25th, reunited with the officers who rescued him on Friday, January 2nd, 2026. Newly released bodycam footage depicts the dramatic rescue operation.
The incident occurred around 1:00 PM when the boy was playing on the ice of a pond located within the Heatherwood Lakeside Village apartment complex in East Patchogue, New York. He fell through the ice and into water that reached chest-deep.
A resident nearby observed the boy struggling in the water and instantly contacted 911,reporting that the child was unable to extricate himself.
Suffolk County Police Officers James Rizzo and Andrew Tirelli responded to the scene and waded into the frigid pond, attempting to reach the boy with a life jacket. Simultaneously, Highway Sergeant Michael Santillo carefully crossed the ice to reach the child and successfully pulled him from the water. NBC New York reported on the rescue.
The boy was transported to a local hospital for medical evaluation and treatment. He appeared to be in good physical condition at the reunion event.
During the reunion, the boy enthusiastically recounted his experience to reporters, while the officers who saved him listened and smiled.
News 4
The 8-year-old shared his story with a room full of reporters.