The Town of Smithtown is praising the swift and heroic actions of local first responders following a life-threatening ice rescue that occurred at Gibbs Pond during the height of the winter storm.
Members of the Smithtown Department of Public Safety and the Nesconset Fire Department responded to a 911 report of two individuals who had fallen through the ice on January 25. Upon arrival, Park Ranger Leyland Crocilla was first on scene and was able to pull a 13-year-old boy to safety, assisted by a nearby Good Samaritan, and off duty FDNY Lt. John Fils-Aine who had witnessed the emergency.
Shortly thereafter, crews from the Nesconset Fire Department arrived, deploying two Mustang suits and a diver, and were able to deploy a ladder over the fishing pier to extricate the victim. Once removed from the ice, both victims were treated for hypothermia. The father and son were transported to Stony Brook University Hospital for further evaluation.
Town officials, first responders, and public safety personnel are crediting quick action, extensive training, and seamless cooperation between agencies for preventing what could have been a tragic outcome.
“The courage and quick action demonstrated yesterday by Park Ranger Leyland Crocilla, our Department of Public Safety, the Nesconset Fire Department, and the Good Samaritans on scene; including off-duty FDNY Lt. John Fils-Aine, is nothing short of heroic,” said Town Supervisor Ed Wehrheim. “In the middle of a dangerous winter storm, these individuals put their own lives at risk to save a father and his young son. Their training, teamwork, and instinct under pressure prevented what would have been an unthinkable tragedy.”
A Strong Reminder: Ice Is Never 100% Safe
Yesterday’s rescue underscores a critical winter safety message: frozen ponds and lakes in our region are extremely unpredictable and often dangerously unstable. Despite appearing solid, ice can weaken rapidly due to fluctuating temperatures, snow cover, moving water beneath the surface, or refreezing after partial melt. Ice that looks thick may not be strong. Thin, cracked, dark, slushy, or honeycombed ice is especially hazardous. Even along the shoreline, ice can be deceptively weak.
Residents are urged to stay off frozen bodies of water entirely. Children should never be allowed near ice unsupervised.
Essential Winter Ice Safety Reminders
The Smithtown Department of Public Safety advise the community to keep the following in mind throughout the winter season:
- Never assume ice is safe. Avoid walking, skating, or playing on frozen ponds or lakes unless officially deemed safe by trained professionals.
- Supervise children closely and remind them to stay off ice at all times
- Recognize warning signs—cracks, dark patches, open water, or snow-covered ice all indicate instability.
- Be prepared near any frozen body of water: travel with a buddy, keep a phone nearby, and know basic self-rescue steps such as remaining calm, spreading weight across the ice, and crawling back toward solid ground.
- Keep simple rescue tools available, such as a rope, throw bag, or flotation device, and call 911 immediately in an emergency.
Ice accidents happen quickly and without warning. Prevention remains the most effective way to keep families safe.
Residents are urged to remain vigilant near local ponds and waterways throughout the winter and to heed all posted warning signs.