Woolwich Police Rescue Teen After Falling Through Icy Pond

A dramatic rescue unfolded in Woolwich Township, New Jersey, when police officers saved a 13-year-old boy who fell through the ice of a retention pond. The incident occurred on Sunday afternoon, around 4:30 p.m., at a pond located off Center Square Road.

Details of the Rescue

According to the Woolwich Township police, officers rushed to the scene as the boy struggled in the icy water. Body camera footage captured the harrowing moments as he pleaded for help. Police Sergeant Joseph Rieger noted that the boy had been in the water for several minutes before help arrived.

Officers’ Efforts

As the teen yelled that he could no longer feel anything, Rieger felt compelled to act. “Once he started screaming that he couldn’t feel anything, I just went out and got him,” he said. In an attempt to save the boy, Rieger crawled onto the ice, but it soon gave way beneath them both.

• Rieger recalled, “I tried to reach for him to pull him up onto the ice, and when I did that, we both went under.”
• Despite the risky situation, Rieger was able to stand in the water that reached his shoulders and began throwing the boy onto the ice.

Corporals Steven Spithaler and another officer joined the rescue, breaking through the ice to assist Rieger. Spithaler described the urgency of the moment, stating, “The kid was so cold that he couldn’t function.” Together, the officers successfully pulled the boy from the icy water.

Aftermath and Safety Warnings

After the rescue, police worked quickly to warm the boy, who was then taken to a local hospital for evaluation. Thankfully, he is expected to recover fully. Authorities emphasized the dangers of thin ice, stating that the ice on the pond was only a few inches thick.

Public Safety Alert

Woolwich Township authorities have advised residents to avoid frozen ponds and lakes due to the unpredictability of ice thickness and temperature. In addition, neighboring Swedesboro issued a warning about Lake Narraticon, urging people to stay off as it is not adequately frozen.