Carmel, IN – A concerned resident’s quick phone call may have prevented a tragedy Thursday evening after two young boys were spotted playing on a partially frozen retention pond, prompting an urgent safety reminder from the Carmel Police Department.
According to police, the incident occurred around 5 p.m. Thursday when a witness saw the children standing on ice that had visible water pooled on top. Police said the ice formed over a retention pond — not a natural body of water — meaning warm runoff and movement beneath the surface made the ice exceptionally unstable.
Officers were dispatched to the area and found the children had already left the ice and walked away. Authorities stressed that while the outcome was positive this time, the situation could have easily turned deadly.
“This was not thick ice,” police said in the announcement. “This was a retention pond with moving water underneath, warm runoff, and only a thin, slushy layer on top. Had either child gone through, we could have been responding to a double tragedy.”
Police said incidents like these happen every winter and urged parents and caregivers to speak with children about the dangers of retention ponds, even when they appear frozen. Officials emphasized two key reminders: never allow kids to play on or near retention ponds and never assume that other adults are watching.
The department credited the witness who called 911, noting that “one witness and one phone call probably saved two lives this week.”
Police encouraged families across Carmel and Hamilton County to stay vigilant as fluctuating winter temperatures continue to create deceptively unsafe ice conditions.
This article was produced by a journalist and may include AI-assisted input. All content is reviewed for accuracy and fairness.
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