11-Year-Old Girl Dies After Trying to Save Boy Who Fell Through Ice in New York Park

Mar. 15, 2025

A stock photo of a Albany police car.Photo:Lori Van Buren/Albany Times Union via Getty

Lori Van Buren/Albany Times Union via Getty

An 11-year-old girl who was taken to a hospital in critical condition afterattempting to save her 12-year-old classmate’s lifewhen he fell through the surface of an icy upstate New York lake has died, authorities said.

“The Albany Police Department extends its heartfelt condolences and support to the families and friends of both children during this difficult time,” policesaid in a statement on Facebookon Tuesday, Dec. 10.

According to a news release shared onFacebookon Sunday. Dec. 8, police officers and firefighters responded to the incident at around 4:30 p.m., and the 12-year-old boy’s body was recovered from the water about three hours later.

“Through the investigation, it is believed that the 12-year-old boy attempted to walk north across the lake towards the lake house and fell through the ice,” police added.

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“It is then believed that the 11-year-old female observed the boy fall through the ice,” according to the department, “and, in an attempt to help, followed the same path of travel across the lake, where she also fell through the ice.”

Police didn’t name the two children due to their age. School officials said both were students at North Albany Middle School.

North Albany Middle School Principal Andrea Piper issueda statement on Dec. 10updating the community about the 11-year-old’s death.

“With support from the district and clinicians from Northern Rivers, our teachers and staff have talked with our students this week about this terrible tragedy and offered emotional support to any student in need,” Piper said.

“We will continue to support our students, and each other as a school community, as we all grieve and process,” his statement continued.

PEOPLE reached out to North Albany Middle School for comment on Wednesday, Dec. 11.

On Dec. 8, City School District of Albany Superintendent Joseph Hochreiter said that their “hearts go out to the families of these students at this incredibly difficult time.”

He added, “This is a terrible tragedy and we are grieving as a school community.”

source: people.com