Boy and Girl, Both 12, Die After Falling Through Ice on Frozen-Over Pond

by Caitlin Nolan – Inside Edition

Two Indiana children playing on a frozen-over pond died after the thin ice broke, leaving the pair struggling for at least a half hour before first responders were able to pull them from the water, authorities said.

The boy and girl, both 12, were outside playing a few minutes before dinnertime Thursday when they went out on the ice behind a Jasper home, according to reports.

When the boy’s mother looked outside at about 5:15 p.m., she saw her son had fallen in the water and was struggling to stay afloat, the Indiana Department of Natural Resources told InsideEdition.com.

A public safety diver pulled the children out of the icy water, but both had been underwater for at least a half hour before being rescued, the DNR said.

Read: 8-Year-Old Boy Hailed A Hero For Calling 911 To Save Mom And Dog From Icy Lake

The children, who were not related, were rushed to Memorial Hospital in Jasper, but the pair could not be saved and died of their injuries.

No foul play is suspected in the incident, authorities said.

Authorities said the ice that they were playing on was estimated to be about an inch to an inch and a half thick.

“It is recommended to have at least four inches of ice to support the weight of a person and to always wear a life jacket,” the DNR said in a statement, noting that “no ice should be considered safe ice.” 

Read: Inseparable Father and Son, 4, Die After Plunging Through Ice Into Frozen Lake

It is also suggested those venturing onto ice always carry ice rescue picks and wear warm clothing and boots outfitted with ice cleats for better footing, officials with the DNR said in a YouTube safety video.

“When you go out on the ice, never venture out alone, always walk in single file, with a buddy,” they said.

It’s also noted that ice with moving or flowing water underneath should never be walked on.

Autopsies for the children are scheduled for Saturday. Their names have been withheld from the public pending family notification, officials said.