Concord firefighters came to the rescue of a woman and a dog who had fallen through the ice Friday morning.
A passerby who witnessed the struggle around 10:30 a.m. called 911 and guided firefighters to the scene at the pond near Balls Hill Road.
The 26-year-old woman and the dog had pulled themselves from the ice and had reached the edge of the water. With temperatures in the teens, responders immediately began to treat the woman for hypothermia, wrapping her and the dog in blankets.
Firefighters then placed the woman in a stokes basket and carried her for a quarter-mile while navigating through steep terrain and trails to reach a clearing, where a department RTV transported her to the parking lot. She was then transported via ambulance to an area hospital.
The dog’s owner met first responders at the scene, and took the dog to a local veterinary hospital for treatment.
First responders learned that the dog fell through the ice, and that the woman – a dog walker – tried to rescue the dog and also fell in.
“Our firefighters worked swiftly and professionally to help this woman and dog get to safety after falling through the ice, and we are happy that they are alright,” Fire Chief Thomas Judge said. “We would like to remind members of the community that our recommendation is to stay off the ice, but if you choose to do so, to proceed with great caution and be prepared.”
In light of this incident, Judge directed residents to the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife website, which offers a variety of ice safety tips for the winter months.
Residents are also encouraged to review cold weather safety tips, available here, when planning to spend time outside during the winter season.
