ESSEX Firefighters were called to a lake in Rangers Road, near Buckhurst Hill, following a dog rescue attempt that left two people in icy water.
A member of the public fell through ice in an attempt to rescue a dog. A passer-by then entered the water to try to help.
oth people were able to get out of the water and were left in the care of the ambulance service. The dog was safely reunited with its owners.
Watch Manager, Gary Dyer, said: “We completely understand why people want to help in situations like this, but cold water can overwhelm the body very quickly.
“The safest thing to do is stay out of the water and call us – we have the training and equipment to respond safely.”
If someone or an animal gets into difficulty in cold water:
Don’t enter the water
Call 999 and ask for the fire service
Maintain visual contact and reassure from a place of safety.
As cold weather continues, we’re also reminding people to take extra care around frozen lakes and waterways and avoid walking on ice, which can look solid but is often thin and unstable.
