A community is grieving after the tragic death of a 12-year-old boy.

He fell through the ice into the freezing waters of Albany’s Washington Park.

An 11-year-old girl who tried to save him also fell through the ice. She is in critical condition in the hospital.

The deadly accident happened Saturday afternoon.

This is a warning for all parents to talk with their kids, Albany’s mayor and interim police chief said.

“Two young people ventured out onto the ice. It was very thin. It was shocking they made it as far out into the lake as they did, given how thin that ice was,” Mayor Sheehan said.

It’s a hidden danger in plain sight. Capital Region ponds, lakes, and streams are freezing over, but these aren’t sturdy ice-skating rinks.

“They were out being kids. They were just playing. They obviously thought the lake was frozen over,” Albany Interim Police Chief Brendan Cox said.

The 12-year-old boy and 11-year-old girl fell into the chilly water. Officials believe the boy went through the ice first, and the girl fell in trying to save him.

First responders managed to rescue the girl. She was rushed to the hospital in critical condition. Sadly, there were no signs of the boy.

Dive teams later found the child and pronounced him dead.

“It’s just a reminder of how fragile life can be and how important it is that we ensure that our children know, and that everyone in our community knows that venturing out onto the ice is not a safe thing to do on any of the bodies of water here,” Albany Mayor Kathy Sheehan said.

“The sudden exposure to very cold water, your body can go into shock. You can have a cardiac injury very quickly,” according to Warren County Sheriffs officer Donnie Long, who is trained in cold water rescues.

“Obviously, the amount of time you’re exposed in the water decreases your chances of survival.”

“This impacts an entire community. There are many people who know these children, who went to elementary school with them and are currently in middle school with them. It’s a tragic situation,” said Mayor Sheehan.

City officials will now consider putting up more warning signs around city parks and lakes, highlighting the dangers of walking on ice, the mayor said.