Man and 2 dogs trapped in frozen Battersea Park lake
A dog walker was rescued by firefighters after he became stranded on a frozen lake in Battersea Park yesterday (Sunday, January 12. Three crews were called to rescue a man stuck on ice in the South London park shortly after 11.20am.
London Fire Brigade says he became stuck on an island in the frozen water. Firefighters used an inflatable rescue boat to bring the man and his dog to safety before they were treated at the scene.
Just hours later, the brigade responded to a second call about another dog trapped on the frozen lake. The service has now issued a warning to walkers to keep their dogs away from frozen lakes and to never make a rescue attempt if they do get stuck.
READ MORE: Gunman still on the loose after Hackney shooting sees three injured
READ MORE: Spooky London burial ground near one of city's busiest roundabouts where old bones were dumped
"It’s best to walk dogs away from frozen water or keep them on the lead if it’s unavoidable. If your dog ventures onto the ice, never follow them onto it, instead call them to come back to you right away, but if they get stuck call fire and rescue services for help.
"Owners should never try to risk rescuing their pet as they could get themselves into a dangerous situation. Even if ice appears thick from the bank, it becomes thinner very quickly. Keep away from the edge of open water, especially slippery banks.
"If you fall in, the temperature of icy water is cold enough to take your breath away, which can easily lead to panic and drowning. The coldness can make your arms and legs numb, which means you can’t control them and can’t swim. It can lead to hypothermia – a serious reduction in your body temperature – which can cause heart failure. This happens even to the strongest swimmers."
What to do if you fall through ice
Keep calm and shout for help
Spread your arms across the surface of the ice in front of you
If you cannot climb out, keep as still as possible with your head clear of the water and wait for help to arrive
If the ice is strong enough, kick your legs to slide onto the ice
Lie flat on the ice and pull yourself towards the bank
Once out of the water, roll away to prevent further cracks i.e. get flat and pull yourself towards the bank
Seek medical attention immediately
What to do if someone else falls through the ice
Don’t go onto the ice or into the frozen water if you see a person or animal getting into difficulty
Stay on the bank, shout for help and phone 999
Shout to the person to keep still, hold their head above water. Offer reassurance to keep them calm
If the person is too far away to help them from the safety of the bank, do not attempt to rescue them
Try to keep your eyes on the person at all times, especially in moving water
Try to find something that will float to throw or push out to them
Wait for the emergency services to arrive
Get the top stories from across London directly to your inbox. Sign up for MyLondon's The 12 HERE to get the biggest stories every day.