An 11-year-old boy who fell through the ice in the middle of a lake in Central New Jersey on February 3, 2025, was rescued by an officer who entered the icy waters “without hesitation,” police said.
The incident occurred in West Long Branch, around 50 miles south of Manhattan. Police went to Franklin Lake around 2:40 p.m. after a 911 caller reported that a child had fallen through the ice.
Patrolman Dave Brosonski, the first officer on the scene, trudged through the frigid water and successfully rescued the boy — who didn’t appear to be injured. The boy was taken to a local hospital for evaluation, police said.
The boy, who was alone, was walking home from school. Officials believe he might have been trying to cross the icy lake as a shortcut.
“The lake has been frozen over for the past several weeks. People have been out there ice skating on it, playing hockey,” West Long Branch Police Lt. Brian Burton told reporters according to Patch Long Branch-Eatontown. “But [February 3] was of course much warmer. The temperature was in the 50s. There’s still a thin layer of ice on it, though.”
Officials say Brosonski secured a rope across his chest and over one shoulder. Two other officers held the rope as he walked to the boy. Volunteer firefighters then helped the two officers pull Brosonski and the child back to safety
Franklin Lake, a small body of water in Monmouth County, is near the Shore Regional High School.
—Muri Assunção
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