Teen critical after falling through ice at Cadwalader Park
TRENTON (WPVI) -- A 14-year-old boy who fell through the ice and into a canal at Cadwalader Park in Trenton on Sunday afternoon remains in critical condition.
Friends of the 14-year-old victim are still in shock, a day after the boy fell through the icy surface of the Delaware and Raritan Canal. It happened as he tried to retrieve his basketball.
"It's so sad for his mother to go through this over something so small that's why you have to be careful," said friend Charles Freeman.
The victim spent at least 20 minutes underwater, as the current swept him downstream under ice.
"Once the victim was taken out, of course because of the cold temperatures he was suffering from hypothermia, went into cardiac arrest, CPR was performed," said Trenton Fire Director Derrick Sawyer.
The teen was transported to a nearby hospital in critical condition then transferred to Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.
This is just the latest of a string of ice rescues in our area over the past few weeks. Director Sawyer asks that parents talk to their kids about staying off of the ice, even if it looks solid.
"Once you fall underwater you may think you're a great swimmer, but no matter how good you are in the cold temperatures you lose your motor functions first, then hypothermia sets in and then your decision making diminishes and it is not likely that you are going to survive," he said.
Friends of the 14 year old are still holding out hope.
"He's a fighter. He's a fighter," said Freeman. "My mentality is he has got this. He just got to keep fighting."
-----
Send a News Tip to Action News
Learn More About 6abc Apps
