A 10-year-old boy died after falling into the Harlem River this evening as a friend jumped in to rescue him, officials and witnesses said.
The two kids were standing on the edge of the water in the Roberto Clemente park near the River Park Towers 6:10 p.m. and throwing rocks into the water when one child slipped.
“They were on the other side of the gate,” said Steven Pullen, 14, who was headed to play basketball with a friend when the boy fell.
“We looked back and they were both just gone. Everyone started screaming and ran towards them.”
After the child fell in, his pal, who appeared slightly older, went after him but was unable to bring him to the shore.
About 20 minutes later, an FDNY diver pulled out both boys. The older one appeared to be fine while the 10-year-old was struggling to breathe, witnesses said.
“As they rolled him past me, they had the oxygen mask on and he started coughing up water,” said Kim Hicks, 35.
The child was rushed to Bronx Lebanon Hospital where he died about an hour later.