NEW YORK, Jan 13, (Agencies): Tragedy struck when two siblings ventured onto the frozen Basswood Pond in upstate New York for a day of ice fishing on Jan 6. The incident, reported by the New York State’s Department of Environmental Conservation, unfolded as a passerby walking his dog witnessed the ice breaking beneath the two men and promptly contacted authorities in the town of Burlington, Ostego County.

Forest ranger Nate Lymon swiftly responded to the distress call, finding one of the brothers struggling in the icy water but no sign of the second individual. With urgency, the ranger pulled the first brother to safety on a sled, where emergency responders attended to him for hypothermia. Returning to the treacherous ice, Ranger Lymon located the missing brother submerged in 7 to 8 feet of water. Collaborating with emergency responders, they successfully retrieved both men from the frigid pond.

Following the rescue, at 3:23 pm, the surviving brother was handed over to EMTs who initiated CPR. Both victims were rushed to the hospital, where the first brother received treatment and was released. Tragically, the second brother, aged 41, succumbed to the harsh conditions and was declared deceased later that night.

The Department of Environmental Conservation emphasized that, at the time of the incident, the ice thickness was a mere one inch, rendering it unsafe for fishing. The DEC stressed the importance of caution, advising a minimum of three to four inches of solid ice for safety. They highlighted the variable nature of ice thickness on bodies of water, urging individuals to regularly check ice conditions for their safety.

This harrowing event occurred just a day after a similar tragedy in Wisconsin, where two young brothers, aged 6 and 8, fell through the ice of a retention pond and later succumbed to the cold. Sun Prairie Police Department Assistant Chief Shunta Boston confirmed the heartbreaking news, expressing deepest condolences to the grieving families and friends impacted by the loss.