27/12/10..Thame fire crew rescues dog from ice

Earlier this afternoon, fire and rescue crews from Thame and Wheatley were called to reports of a dog stranded after falling through ice in a lake near Tiddington.

The owner met the first crews arriving in Sandy Lane and led them to the lake which was a about half a mile from the road. On arrival the crews found the dog hanging onto the edge of the ice about 5m from the bank.

Fire-Fighters using wading poles to break the ice and wearing specialist dry suits entered the lake and were able to break a pathway and wade close enough to rescue the dog which by this time was in some distress. Once the dog was carried back to the bank he was covered using Fire-Fighters’ tunics and placed in a kit bag to keep warm then taken to the owner?s home in the Fire and Rescue Service 4×4 where a vet was called.

Watch Manager, Andy Ford from Thame, said: “On our arrival the dog was obviously very cold and was not going to be able to hold on for much longer, but fortunately we were able to get to the dog safely using specialist dry suits and get him to shore where the crews started to warm him up by covering him with their tunics.

“Thankfully the owner and his family had not tried to rescue the dog by going in after it which could have proved very dangerous. There have been a number of similar incidents around the county attended by Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service and I would like to remind people to take extra care around frozen rivers and lakes and also keep dogs on leads. The ice can be very thin in places and especially now the ice is starting to thaw.”

Advice for dog walkers:

* Keep your dogs on leads at all times near frozen
water.
* If your dog gets into trouble, do not follow it
onto the ice.
* Make no attempt to try to rescue it, you will put
your life in danger.
* Call for help – Call the emergency services 999.
Tell them exactly where you are and what has
happened.
* Do NOT attempt to go out onto the ice yourself.