Quick-thinking kids help save dad who fell through ice rescuing dog, Utah cops say

A father who fell through the ice while trying to rescue a dog from a frozen pond had a narrow escape, Utah sheriff’s officials reported.

The man’s children swiftly called 911 on the morning of Friday, Dec. 6, in Lewiston, the Cache County Sheriff’s Office said in a Dec. 7 news release.

Deputies and firefighters responded to the pond, deputies said.

In “a remarkable display of bravery,” a deputy entered the freezing water with a life vest and hatchet to chop his way through the ice to the man, officials said.

Firefighters followed behind him, reaching the stranded father just as he slipped beneath the freezing water, deputies said.

They rescued the man and brought him to shore, deputies said. The dog also was saved.

The father is in stable condition, deputies said.

Lewiston is about a 100-mile drive north from Salt Lake City.

What to do if you fall through ice

It’s never a guarantee that ice is safe to walk on.

You can’t judge the strength of ice by its appearance. Its strength also has to do with the water under the ice and the distribution of the load on the ice, according to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.

Even if every safety precaution is followed, sometimes the ice can begin to shatter. Here’s what to do if you find yourself plunging through ice:

• Don’t take off your winter clothing. They’ll keep you warm and provide flotation.

• Turn toward the direction you came.

• Put your hands and arms on unbroken ice, and use available tools to try to pull yourself up.

• Kick your feet and dig in.

• Lie flat on the ice to keep your weight spread out. This will help prevent you from falling in again.

• Get to a warm and dry place immediately.

This story was originally published December 9, 2024 at 11:05 AM with the headline "Quick-thinking kids help save dad who fell through ice rescuing dog, Utah cops say."