THE BRONX — Two 13-year-old boys were critically injured after jumping into the Bronx River to swim Friday afternoon, officials said.
According to police, the teens jumped into the water inside Starlight Park, near 172nd street just after 3 p.m.
Diaminique Mims, 15, was by the basketball courts when a group of boys came over to her crying and asked if she could swim.
She said she couldn't but another boy tried to jump in to help, witnesses said. The boy eventually had to get out of the water because he was having trouble swimming.
"I was frightened," said witness Miguel Perez, 14.
One teen was pulled from the water just minutes after rescuers arrived and rushed to Jacobi Hospital unconscious and unresponsive, police said.
Perez said that when they pulled the boy out his eyes were red and he was foaming at the mouth.
Meanwhile they frantically searched for the other boy and found him about an hour later, according to FDNY Deputy Chief Anthony Montera.
According to Montera, the water that FDNY and NYPD divers searched was "very murky."
The boy was rushed to an area hospital in critical condition.
A sign posted oustide the pier says that swimming is prohibited.
The Parks Department did not immediately respond to an email for comment.