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Three More Teens Plunge Through Ice In Central Park In Separate Incidents

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) - Despite more than a dozen warning signs in the area, three more teens plunged through the ice at the pond in the southeast corner of Central Park within the last 24 hours.

A 13-year-old and 15-year-old ventured out onto the ice to take a picture at around 7:30 p.m. Sunday night. The ice gave way and they fell through. They were able to make it to shore on their own but authorities had them taken to a hospital. They were in stable condition.


On Monday, a 15-year-old ventured out onto the ice to take a selfie at around 1:15 p.m. He was rescued by NYPD officers who were patrolling the area.

As WCBS 880's Myles Miller reports, Officer Eddie Rodonchick was at a counter-terrorism post in Grand Army Plaza when a passerby ran over saying somebody fell into the water.

Rodonchick took off his gun belt and went onto the ice with a ladder, passing it to the teen. With the help of a fellow officer, he pulled the boy to safety.

"We heard ice crack, and it was getting weaker and weaker by the minute. So I figured if I go out by meyself, pull him out, we have a better chance than all of use being on the ice. it worked in our favor," he said.

The teen was taken to a hospital as a precaution.

As CBS2's Tracee Carrasco reported, despite the 17 warning signs posted around the pond -- the easy access in may be too tempting for curious teens.

"There is no such thing as safe ice," the FDNY posted on its Twitter account. "Never walk on frozen water. You risk your life and the lives of first responders."

As CBS2's Alice Gainer reported, the ice appeared so thin it was possible to see the water underneath.

Cell phone video captured officers walking out, using ladders to get to the teen stranded halfway in the sem-frozen pond.

He was eventually dragged to dry land.

Discarded wet clothing currently litters the perimeter of the pond.

"He was unable to walk. He was so freezing, so they gave him a blanket," a witness said.

Pedi cab drivers witnessed the rescue and captured it on their phones.

"He was dancing on the ice, and then he fell over the water. He was asking for help, but people were taking video and pictures. So I went to the police officers to go and help him out," Serge Nikiema said.

Officers came to the rescue.

"He was up to his chest, he wasn't saying anything at the time. We could only see his upper torso, his arm, and his head," one of the officers said.

The parks department said there are 17 signs warning people to stay off the pond's thin ice.

Pedi cab drivers said people going out on the ice have been a problem for years.

"My second time to see someone falling inside, very dangerous to go out," one driver said.

Back in February, six young people ventured out onto the ice and had to be rescued after falling through.

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