Boy, Horses Rescued From West Virginia Frozen Ponds in Separate Accidents

Jan. 26, 2005
Emergency workers battled ice, freezing temperatures and cold water to rescue a boy in Putnam County and two horses in Nicholas County after they fell into frozen ponds.
HURRICANE, W.Va. (AP) -- Emergency workers battled ice, freezing temperatures and cold water to rescue a boy in Putnam County and two horses in Nicholas County after they fell into frozen ponds.

The 14-year-old boy apologized to emergency workers after he was pulled out of a pond at Sleepy Hollow Golf Club in Teays Valley on Tuesday.

``He kept saying I'm sorry, I'm sorry,'' said Dana Russell, a paramedic with Putnam County EMS.

The boy, who was not identified, fell through the ice after walking about 20 feet from the bank, said Brian Cook, assistant chief with the Teays Valley Volunteer Fire Department.

Russell said he and his partner, Kyle Slate, threw the boy a rope but he could not grab it so they broke the ice with their fists. They then attempted to rescue him with a board used to transport patients but he was too weak and cold to grab it so they jumped into the water and pushed him out.

The boy, who was in the water for about 10 minutes, was treated and released at a local hospital.

In Nicholas County, firefighters and residents braved single-digit temperatures for more than two hours to rescue two Tennessee Walkers that fell into a neighbor's pond Sunday night after getting out of their barn.

The neighbor and three other men attempted to break the ice with sledgehammers but it was too thick so they called the Craigsville Fire Department. Firefighters used chain saws to cut a path in the ice and pulled the horses out with ropes, Fire Chief Tim Blake said.

The horses were not seriously injured.

Voice Your Opinion!

To join the conversation, and become an exclusive member of Firehouse, create an account today!