Firefighters’ Heroic Rescue: Man and Dog Saved from Icy Lake!

Quick Smiles:

• Heroic firefighters save a man and his dog from icy waters.
• Drone footage captures the dramatic rescue.
• Both the man and his dog recover fully from hypothermia.

In a chilling yet uplifting incident in Massachusetts, a man and his dog were both rescued from the icy depths of Lake Waban in Wellesley.

Ed Berger was out for a brisk walk with his dogs, Tommy and Oscar, when Tommy dashed onto the frozen lake, enticed by birds on the ice.

The ice beneath Tommy’s paws gave way, plunging him into the freezing water. Berger, in a desperate attempt to save his furry friend, commandeered a nearby boat.

However, he too found himself in the icy grasp of the lake.

Upon arrival, Wellesley Fire Department rescuers swiftly pulled Berger from the water.

They then returned to rescue Tommy, adhering to essential ice rescue techniques.

Drone footage shows the rescuers lying flat on their stomachs or kneeling to distribute their weight, preventing further ice breakage.

One rescuer in the water lifted Berger, allowing him to place his chest flat on the ice before maneuvering the rest of his body out.

“If no rescue is forthcoming, don’t try to lift yourself out of the water as you would in a swimming pool,” the department advises.

Instead, use your arms flat on the ice and inch your torso up, wriggling like a seal to free your legs.

In a twist of irony, Berger, an EMT, often arrives to aid in such emergencies.

He later described the experience as “hanging out with two guys who knew exactly what they were doing.”

Both Berger and Tommy were treated for hypothermia at medical facilities and have since made full recoveries.

This tale of bravery and skill serves as a reminder of the importance of knowing how to safely navigate thin ice rescues.

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