MOUNT HOLLY, NJ – Three students were rescued Wednesday afternoon after falling through thin ice at Woolman Lake, prompting a rapid response from police, firefighters, and EMS crews.

According to the Mount Holly Township Police Department, the incident occurred when three juveniles ventured onto the frozen surface of the lake and the ice gave way. One male student managed to reach the shoreline before officers arrived. Two female students, however, were trapped in chest-deep icy water as first responders reached the scene.

Officers quickly developed a rescue plan, guiding the girls closer to shore before deploying a rope to pull them to safety. All three students were evaluated at the scene and taken to Virtua Hospital as a precaution for cold-water exposure. Authorities said all are expected to recover.

The Westampton Fire Department assisted in the operation, entering the frigid water to recover personal belongings left behind during the rescue. Police later emphasized that ice in the region is never safe to walk on, regardless of freezing temperatures, noting that thickness and stability can vary dangerously across the same body of water.

Chief Clifford Spencer commended the swift, coordinated response of first responders and urged parents to remind children about the dangers of frozen lakes and ponds.