Skaters risk lives on frozen Beaulieu pond

8:25am Monday 12th January 2009

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STUPIDITY that beggars belief.

That’s how experts described the scenes at a New Forest pond as skaters risked their lives yesterday – just hours after a dog plunged into the icy waters below and died.

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Both adults and children took to the frozen surface of Hatchet Pond in Beaulieu.

Earlier, a family had watched on as crews mounted a rescue operation to try and save their seven-year-old dog, who had fallen through the ice during a morning walk.

The desperate father made attempts to save the terrier dog by walking onto the frozen pond himself but had to turn back after fears for his own safety.

Firefighters from Beaulieu arrived on the scene just after 8.30am and were able to pluck the small dog from the icy waters.

But despite more than 15 minutes of administering CPR inside the fire truck, the RSPCA advised crews to stop their actions and the dog was pronounced dead at the scene.

Jo Blackburn, RSPCA animal collection’s officer, who was at the scene, said: “The family were obviously inconsolable and feeling hideously guilty.

“But despite what had just happened we witnessed more people heading out onto the ice to skate yesterday. Their stupidity beggars belief.

“Anyone walking their dog near a frozen lake needs to put it on a lead, to stop any risk of the dog racing onto the ice and falling in.”

Chris Norgate, from Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service, added that people needed to use their common sense and keep off the ice.

He said: “Although the message should be getting through to people that the only way to stay safe near frozen water is to keep off.

“Every year individuals repeatedly risk death by venturing out onto frozen lakes, canals and other areas of inland water.”