Far Rockaway Rescue: Three Men Fall Through Icy Lake Just Before Shabbat | WATCH
A quiet Friday in Bayswater turned into a desperate fight for survival after three men plunged into the 36-degree waters of Jamaica Bay. Watch the harrowing moment NYPD divers and Hatzolah units battled the freeze to pull the 22-year-olds from the depths in a high-stakes aerial rescue.
In a harrowing winter incident, three 22-year-old men were rescued from the icy depths of Jamaica Bay after falling through thin ice on Friday afternoon.
The event unfolded around 4:15 p.m. near Norton Drive and Bayswater Avenue in the Bayswater area of Queens, adjacent to the Five Towns region in Nassau County, an area known for its large Jewish community.
Eyewitnesses described a scene of panic as the men, who had ventured onto the frozen bay, suddenly plunged into the 36°F water.
"They're all screaming help. They're panicking," said witness Thomas Castro, who observed the chaos from the shore.
Neighbors noted that this wasn't the first time the group had walked out on the ice, raising concerns about risky behavior in the area.
The FDNY classified the emergency as a 10-46 water/ice rescue at Box 1163, with initial reports indicating two to three individuals had broken through the ice.
NYPD Aviation Unit helicopters swiftly arrived, deploying scuba divers and rescue swimmers who braved the freezing conditions to reach the victims.
FDNY units and Hatzolah paramedics, a volunteer emergency medical service prominent in Jewish communities, were also on scene to provide immediate assistance.
Dramatic footage captured the operation: helicopters hovering over the snowy bay, lowering divers who secured the men in harnesses and hoisted them to safety one by one.
Onlookers gathered on the shore as emergency vehicles lined the area, underscoring the coordinated effort between NYPD's Scuba Team, Aviation Unit, Emergency Service Unit, and FDNY rescuers.
All three men were pulled out alive, though one had been submerged for an extended period and appeared unresponsive at times during the rescue. They were transported to nearby hospitals, including Mount Sinai South Nassau and St. John’s Episcopal, for treatment of hypothermia and related injuries.