Yells for help lead to search for woman who fell through ice, New Hampshire cops say

Search and rescue crews are scouring a lake in southeastern New Hampshire where a woman fell through the ice, officials say.

Witnesses heard someone yelling for help at about 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 11, at Big Island Pond, near Atkinson, New Hampshire State Police said in a news release.

Multiple agencies, including local police and firefighters, as well as state Fish and Game Department officials and others are working together to scour the lake, police said.

The woman has not been found as of the morning of Jan. 12, and officials believe it’s unlikely they will find her alive.

“Based on the preliminary investigation, Marine Patrol officers believe the victim fell through the ice and likely drowned. At this time, the victim has not yet been located and recovery efforts remain ongoing,” police said.

The search was temporarily halted overnight and resumed in the morning.

Police did not say how old the woman is and did not provide a name. It’s not clear what she was doing at the lake.

Big Island Pond is about 15 feet deep on average, with a maximum depth just shy of 80 feet, according to a report by the state Department of Environmental Services.

Anyone with information that could help with the search is asked to contact Marine Patrol Sgt. Nicholas Haroutunian at (603) 227-2112, police said.

Big Island Pond is a roughly 25-mile drive southeast from Manchester.

It’s always dangerous to go out onto ice, no matter the time of season, according to officials.

“There should be a minimum of six inches of hard ice before individual foot travel, and eight to ten inches of hard ice for snow machine or All-Terrain Vehicle travel,” state Fish and Game Department says, adding that even thick ice can be weak, depending on conditions.

If you do break through the ice, stay calm, you can still get out safely.

“Move or swim back to where you fell in, where you know the ice was solid. Lay both arms on the unbroken ice and kick hard. This will help lift your body onto the ice,” the department says.

This story was originally published January 12, 2025 at 8:53 AM with the headline "Yells for help lead to search for woman who fell through ice, New Hampshire cops say."