Jan 02, 2026
An 8-year-old Long Island boy who fell into an icy pond on Christmas Day, reunited with the officers who saved him on Friday — as newly released bodycam video shows the harrowing rescue effort. The boy had been playing on the ice on a pond in East Patchogue’s Heatherwood Lakeside Village apar tment complex around 1 p.m. when he fell through the ice and into chest-deep water. A nearby resident noticed the boy in the water — he couldn’t get himself out — and called 911. Two officers, James Rizzo and Andrew Tirelli, waded into the pond and tried to throw him a life jacket, while Highway Sergeant Michael Santillo crossed the ice to reach the child and pull him from the water. The boy was taken to a hospital for treatment and, judging by Friday’s appearance, is physically OK. He animatedly explained his ordeal as the officers who helped save him chuckled in the background. The 8-year-old got to tell a whole room full of reporters about his ordeal. ...read more read less
Respond, make new discussions, see other discussions and customize your news...

To add this website to your home screen:

1. Tap tutorialsPoint

2. Select 'Add to Home screen' or 'Install app'.

3. Follow the on-scrren instructions.

Feedback
FAQ
Privacy Policy
Terms of Service