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.
