A dog has been rescued after falling into freezing water at a Stoke-on-Trent lake. Firefighters launched the rescue mission after the 15-month-puppy got into difficulty at Holden Lane pools in Sneyd Green.
The owner had raised the alarm shortly before 10am today (January 13). Crews used ice paths to reach the stricken pup and pull it from the water.
A Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service spokesman said: “We were called at 9.50am today (Monday 13 January) to Leek New Road following reports of a dog being in the water of a nearby lake. A total of four crews attended Holden Lane pools, including a water rescue crew and an animal rescue crew.
“Firefighters used ice paths to retrieve the dog from the water. Thankfully, the owner did not attempt to rescue the pet themselves and stayed safe while we attended the scene. The animal was treated with oxygen and wrapped in blankets before the owner took them to the vets. We left the scene at 11.20am.”
The emergency service response comes after nearby Excel Academy had received reports about ‘students walking on the frozen lake’. It urged parents to speak to their children about the dangers.
Warning people about the dangers of frozen water, the fire service added that people should:
- Avoid wandering too near the edge of bodies of water as icy or wet conditions could cause you to slip and fall in
- Avoid testing the thickness of ice – it’s easy to slip and fall into freezing water
- Make sure children understand how dangerous it is to play on ice with adults setting a good example and staying off the ice themselves
- Keep pets on leads near to frozen water so they are not at risk of falling in.
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