I just had the dubious privilege of pulling someone from the ice today. I was hiking at Giuffrida Park in Meriden, CT and walking along the reservoir since the ice was about 2-3 inches on the edges (it also enabled me to avoid all the dog poo left by the dog walkers). A young girl with her 2 tiny dogs came by the trail and she took them off the leash and sure enough they went out on the ice to the middle of the reservoir were there was no ice and the both dogs fell in. The girl freaked out and ran out to get her dogs as I was heading to them also. Well in a flash she went over the edge and into the water and was able to pushe her 2 dogs out but couldnt get out herself. She went under briefly but was able to clamber about at the edge while screaming for help. I was able to get down on my stomach near the icy edge and give her a hard pull out. Luckily the ice was strong enough and didnt give way. The thought of witnessing a persons death was one Ive couldnt bear and had to do something. Lots of thoughts go thru ones mind. What if I hadnt gone for a hike? Did the dogs see me on the ice and go out only because they saw me on the ice? Etc. Well, we got her and her dogs to a warm car and we all left before any emergency help could arrive as people did call 911 but told them no ambulance was needed as she appeared cold but OK.
Becarefull out there. The ice is thick enough to walk on but there are very dangerous spots also.
I wish there was some easy way I could use this experience to help others avoid the same fate.
What a day.