Smithtown Praises First Responders After Gibbs Pond Ice Rescue During Storm

A 13-year-old boy and his father were pulled from freezing water at Gibbs Pond in Nesconset after both fell through the ice during a winter storm, and rapid, coordinated action by local responders is being credited with saving their lives. Park Ranger Leyland Crocilla arrived first and was able to pull the boy to safety, aided by a nearby Good Samaritan and an off-duty FDNY lieutenant. Crews from the Nesconset Fire Department then arrived and executed an ice-rescue operation that removed the father.

Town of Smithtown Public Safety units responded to a 911 call reporting two people in the water. Nesconset Fire Department personnel deployed two Mustang suits and an underwater diver, and crews moved a ladder over the fishing pier to extricate the father from the ice. Both victims were treated at the scene for hypothermia and then transported to Stony Brook University Hospital for further evaluation.

Town officials attributed the successful outcome to training, preparedness, and interagency cooperation among Smithtown Department of Public Safety, park personnel, Nesconset Fire Department crews, and civilians who intervened. Smithtown Town Supervisor Ed Wehrheim issued a statement thanking the rescuers and the Good Samaritans involved. The rescue took place Jan. 26, 2026, at the height of the storm that left hazardous conditions across Suffolk County.

The incident underscores the practical value of equipment such as Mustang suits and the presence of trained divers in municipal and volunteer fire units, as well as the importance of on-site park staff. Park Ranger Leyland Crocilla’s immediate intervention highlights how local staffing and patrols can shorten response times in isolated or recreational areas like Gibbs Pond, where a fishing pier and thin ice create specific hazards for families and anglers.

For Smithtown residents, the episode is a reminder of the risks associated with winter ice and the limits of informal rescue attempts. While Good Samaritans played a crucial role in stabilizing the situation, the presence of trained responders equipped for cold-water operations was decisive in completing the extrication without further injury.

Looking ahead, town leaders and emergency agencies may weigh this rescue when reviewing public-safety messaging, signage at ponds and parks, staffing of park rangers, and funding priorities for equipment and training. The rescue also reinforces a civic fact: community safety depends on both professional readiness and the willingness of neighbors to act when seconds count.