Two men struggle in frozen lake after dog goes in

Two men were treated by ambulance crews after they ended up falling through the surface of an icy lake as one tried to rescue a dog.

Ambulance and fire crews were called to Connaught Water in Epping Forest on Sunday at about 14:20 GMT.

Essex County Fire & Rescue Service said one person fell through ice in an attempt to rescue the dog and a passer-by then entered the water to try to help.

Both 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, the fire service said.

The East of England Ambulance Service said one of the two men was taken to Whipps Cross Hospital in east London for further assessment and care.

According to eyewitness Ozgur Ontas, from Chingford, they were in the water for 10-15 minutes before they managed to get out and the emergency services arrived soon after.

Ontas, who was in the area with his wife and daughter, said: "It's problematic for dog walkers; it wasn't just this man, other people's dogs also went into the lake and ran on the ice. This could happen again."

Fire 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."

As cold weather continues, the fire service reminded 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.

Should a person or animal get into difficulty, the advice is not to enter the water but to dial 999 and ask for the fire service.

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