The teenager was rescued along with a dog
(Picture: PA Wire)A teenager has been taken to hospital after falling through ice on a frozen pond on Leyton Flats in east London.
The boy was rescued along with a dog by firefighters on Monday morning, in freezing conditions.
Three London Fire Brigade (LFB) fire engines were scrambled to the scene in Whipps Cross Road, Leytonstone, shortly before 11.30am along with two rescue units.
They arrived to find the boy and dog trapped in the water “quite a way from the shore”.
Firefighters used specialist water rescue equipment to bring the boy and dog safely to shore, before the teen was taken to hospital.
Our 999 Control Officers have taken several calls today to dogs trapped on frozen ponds & lakes. Please keep dogs on leads - if your dog ends up on ice, don't put yourself in danger by going to rescue them yourself. Call 999 and stay off the ice pic.twitter.com/HvP9sl7OPH
— London Fire Brigade (@LondonFire) January 23, 2023
London Fire Brigade has now issued a warning for Londoners to stay off frozen ponds, lakes, and other bodies of water, as temperatures have plummeted across the capital.
A spokesperson said: “Walking out on to frozen ponds or lakes is extremely dangerous. Never assume that the ice is thick enough to support you. It may look sturdy enough to stand on, but it often isn’t and can be of variable thickness especially as you move away from the edge where the ice is often thinner.
“If you fall into icy water, the risk of hypothermia is very high and can prove fatal.
“We see a number of people who put themselves in danger by attempting to rescue pets that have become stranded or trapped, and then they also need to be rescued by the brigade. Dog owners should keep them on a lead and keep a close eye on them.
A Twickenham fisherman became an immediate local hero yesterday as he sprang into action to rescue a dog close to drowning in Bushy Park. Story to follow 👇 pic.twitter.com/7fzBNLft72
— Teddington Nub News (@TeddingtonNub) January 23, 2023
“Firefighters are trained and have specialist equipment to rescue those who do get stuck on, or in, an icy lake or pond, so if you see a person or an animal in difficulty don’t put yourself at risk by going in after them. Call 999, keep your eye on them and stay off the ice.”
It comes after another “hero” fisherman Jason Biggin was on Sunday filmed pulling a dog from the -3C water of the Heron Pond in Bushy Park, Richmond, after it ran onto the ice to chase birds and fell through.
Photos also showed children playing on the frozen pond, prompting a warning from the Met Police on Wednesday.
“Do not let your children or dogs go onto the ice, it’s dangerous. Put dogs on a lead by the ponds,” the force advised.
We are aware of a dog that fell through the ice at #BushyPark today, which had to be rescued by a fisherman, as well as being sent photos of children on the ice. Do not let your children or dogs go onto the ice, it’s dangerous. Put dogs on a lead by the ponds. pic.twitter.com/jPuQG9l9Zw
— Royal Parks Police (@MPSRoyal_Parks) January 22, 2023
The warning comes just weeks after four boys died after being pulled from a frozen lake in Solihull, West Midlands on December 11.
The boys were brothers Samuel Butler, six, and Finlay Butler, eight, their cousin Thomas Stewart, 11, and Jack Johnson, 10. They were pulled from freezing water in Babbs Mill Lake and rushed to hospital, where they tragically died.
Temperatures dipped to -8C in some parts of the capital overnight on Sunday.
Monday was set to reach a high of just 5C while the rest of the week is due to remain in single-digit temperatures, with mist and freezing fog expected on Tuesday morning before clearing for sunny weather.
