Firefighters help rescue horses from frozen lake after animals fell through ice
Firefighters rescuing two horses from a frozen lake in a field opposite Summers Leys in Great Doddington.
TWO horses were saved following a dramatic hour-long rescue involving dozens of firefighters, after the animals fell through ice 50 metres from the bank of a frozen lake.
A dog walker spotted the two young horses trapped neck deep in icy water after they walked across a frozen lake near the Summer Leys Nature Reserve, off Hardwater Road, between Wollaston and Great Doddington.
Five fire engines and more than 20 firefighters, including specialist water and animal rescue teams, were called to the scene at around 4pm yesterday. They spent more than an hour in the treacherous conditions, using specialist inflatable platforms, before leading the horses towards the bank and finally out of the water.
Both animals were then inspected by a vet and were not seriously injured.
Group manager Ian McDonald said the pair had “probably been in the ice for quite some time”.
He said: “They were standing in the water, which was shoulder height on them. It took a lot of coordinating and all our technical expertise to get them out.
“We had to deploy six specialist rescue technicians and we also had to use four rescue paths, which are inflatable paths that allow us to travel on the ice. We made our way to the horses and then put a collar and harness on them and led them to the bank.”
Mr McDonald said firefighters had had to brave potentially treacherous conditions to cross the ice and finally save the two animals.
He added: “It is a dangerous environment but we are specially trained to do this.”
It was the second call-out to an animal trapped in ice yesterday and was the third instance since the cold snap gripped the county last week.
Both earlier calls involved dogs and on each occasions the pets died.
Mr McDonald again warned people, and particularly dog walkers, about the potential dangers of frozen lakes.
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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Temperature: 11 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 18 mph
Wind direction: East
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Comments
There are 7 comments to this article
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Monday, February 13, 2012 at 05:53 PMSheep would have drowned themselves under the same circumstances, with their fleeces.. I have seen them floating passed me when out fishing.. Even more stupid than horses. I have seen a hundred of them wondering whether they should square up to a Yorkshire Terrier. That's a great picture, are they kissing? The horses not the fireman by the way!
lady muck
Monday, February 13, 2012 at 05:13 PMmojo...horses are mad....they'll bolt if they see a paper bag blow across the road, but for real stupidity, sheep atke the biscuit. they spend their entire lives trying to find new ways to kill themselves.
mabbuttjose
Monday, February 13, 2012 at 01:50 PMWell done to the rescue service.The people who own these horses shoul be reported to the R.S.P.C.A. for not keeping and eye on these animals in the conditions
mojo
Monday, February 13, 2012 at 01:14 PMBear with me as I know nothing about the habits of horses but would it be natural for a horse to venture out on to a frozen lake given that it would extremely slippery under foot or could it be that they were looking for drinking water in which case the owner should have ensured a supply?
Finker
Monday, February 13, 2012 at 11:35 AMWisdom, I presume that these people were trained for water rescue and had the right kit. So there's one big difference.
Removed by moderator
Monday, February 13, 2012 at 10:54 AMWell done!! Half a ton of muscle each but about two ounces of brains. Have seen dogs out racing around on the ice on the local lake in the last few days. We all know what might happen. Glad the thaw is settling in. The answer to the question? Elefens aftey.
wisdom
Monday, February 13, 2012 at 10:24 AMWell done to all involved in rescuing these wonderful animals! Puts the police to shame when we had a similar incident involving a human being in water but no one were prepared to go in and try to help due to 'health and safety' and the person died.These firemen put their lives at risk,so what's the difference?
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