An 11-year-old boy had to be rescued after he fell through the icy surface of a pond inside a Queens park Friday, according to cops and firefighters.<\/p>\n
The boy plummeted into the frigid waters at Springfield Park<\/a> near Springfield Blvd. and 146th Ave. just before 3 p.m., according to police.<\/p>\n The firefighters of Engine 311 and Ladder 158, whose firehouse is located next to the park<\/a>, were coincidentally wrapping up specialized ice-water-rescue training when some local kids rushed in through their doors pleading for help for the freezing child, said FDNY Assistant Deputy Chief Tim Keenan<\/a>.<\/p>\n The smoke eaters grabbed tethered ropes and ice picks, while probationary Firefighter Shaun McMahon \u2014 designated \u201cRescue Swimmer 1\u201d for the operation \u2014 donned a cold-water suit.<\/p>\n Trying to keep from falling through the ice himself, McMahon lay flat on the pond\u2019s frozen surface and used his ice pick to slide toward the boy.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen a child falls through the ice, we know there\u2019s a risk for us to fall through the ice, as well,\u201d Keenan said.<\/p>\n Despite his best efforts, McMahon proved too heavy for the ice and fell into the pond about halfway to the boy, he said.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was definitely cold,\u201d the firefighter said. \u201cRegardless if I was cold or not, he was even colder.\u201d<\/p>\n With the water too deep for him to stand, McMahon swam out to the boy, before signaling to his partner to reel him in. But the pair ran into trouble after being pulled back to the ice shelf, where McMahon was unable to clamber back onto the pond\u2019s icy surface, forcing the firefighter to smash his way through the ice back to shore with help from his partner.<\/p>\n The boy was taken to a local hospital in stable condition.<\/p>\n Firefighters also pulled another boy from the pond who was closer to shore, according to McMahon.<\/p>\n \u201cHe went in to toss a ladder to help his friend,\u201d the probie said. \u201cHe was assisted out. The other one had to be rescued.\u201d<\/p>\n The heroics at Springfield Park followed another Queens ice rescue<\/a> after three 22-year-old men fell through ice the into Jamaica Bay on Feb. 6.<\/p>\n