A local college student nearly lost his life Monday afternoon after falling off the Oswego harbor breakwall. He survived because firefighters were able to pull him from the frigid waters, but now officials are renewing their warnings about the dangers of the unsafe structure. Candace Hopkins has more.

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OSWEGO, N.Y. -- After yet another dangerous rescue due to a fall off the Oswego harbor breakwall, Oswego officials are warning residents to keep away from the wall, year round.

"The breakwall, being as dangerous terrain as it is, those breaking waves were pushing him into the water," said Coast Guard Station Oswego Officer in Charge Joe Orlando.

Orlando describes a scary scene. It was Monday afternoon when an 18-year-old college student was thrown off the Oswego harbor breakwall into the water. The Coast Guard reached out to the Oswego Fire Department and within minutes, Chief Jeff McCrobie says their rescue boat was racing toward the wall.

"They said as they approached him, he just wanted to get out of the water and after a couple more minutes, you're going to lose the ability to do anything like that, you're just going to be a victim," said McCrobie.

SUNY Oswego student Aaron Matthews was plucked from the water by firefighters and ended up with only minor injuries, but officials say the accident should be a reminder of just how dangerous the breakwall really is.

"It's not good to walk out there, even in the good weather. Summertime, you can see the sunset or whatever from the shore, as well as you can from the breakwall, but there's something about it that lures people out there," said McCrobie.

Water rescues can be extremely dangerous for first responders, especially in the cold winter months, when Chief McCrobie says water temperatures and conditions are sometimes very unpredictable.

"You are putting any kind of first responders and rescuers in a dangerous situation, to be in any kind of vessel out on the water in February is dangerous in itself. You've got to realize however or wherever you're getting on there, it's not a good situation at all," McCrobie said.

Now Chief McCrobie and other city officials are considering ways to limit the public's access to the breakwall, but the Army Corps of Engineers own the structure, making an immediate solution unclear.