Boy dies after falling through ice on pond in Queens

Firefighters clawed through ice and plunged into frigid water to rescue a boy who fell into a frozen pond in Queens Tuesday but Anthony Perez, 11, later died at Jamaica hospital, the NYPD said.

Firefighters responded to Forest Park at about 4 p.m. Perez had walked about 50 feet onto the frozen pond before the ice broke, the FDNY said. He had gone out to save a friend who had himself fallen through the ice, the New York Post reported.

Deputy Chief George Healy said firefighters used their hands to break through the ice and then waded into the chest-deep water to pull out Perez, who was unconscious and not breathing.

Two firefighters were treated for hypothermia.

A sign by the pond warns of thin ice.

"We implore parents—make sure your kids know the ice in the city of New York, on these lakes and ponds, is not safe," Healy said. "It won't support your weight. Please stay off the ice."

In a Facebook post, the FDNY shared photos from the scene and a warning about the ice: "FDNY urges all New Yorkers to please, stay off of the ice. There is no such thing as safe ice."

With the Associated Press