Teens Stranded In Tree On Icy Arizona Lake

Two teenagers were forced to spend a couple of nervous hours in cold weather hanging onto a dead tree after ice on a lake in Arizona began to crack.

The youngsters were rescued after the ice gave way beneath their feet in a park, authorities said.

Each of the teenagers lost a shoe that got stuck to the ice, and both were taken to hospital for treatment of mild hypothermia after being rescued, said Show Low Fire District Captain Brent Mix.

A third youngster stayed on the snow-covered bank of Fool Hollow Lake and called for help when the other two got stuck.

"Their hands and feet got pretty cold," Capt Mix said. "It was dark by the time we got them to shore."

A firefighter in a protective suit crawled across the lake with a rope to reach the tree where other two teens were perched.

He then used the rope to pull over a boat carrying two other firefighters, Capt Mix said.

The teens got in the vessel and it was pulled back to shore, he said.

"Every once in a while we have kids trying to see how far out they can go," Capt Mix added.

"That was pretty foolish. There was probably an inch of ice in the middle of the lake."

A total of 25 fire and other emergency personnel were involved in the operation.