Dramatic rescue after ice gives way on pond

By msnbc.com staff

A 3-year-old?boy and his parents are lucky to be alive after falling through thin ice on a pond in Arlington, Mass.

Soon after venturing onto the ice Sunday evening, cracks appeared and the family fell in. A friend who was with?them immediately called 911; within three minutes the first rescuers were in the water.

The rescue operation, part of which was?shown?by NBC affiliate WHDH TV in the video above, took place in the dark with fire personnel shining lights on rescuers who themselves went through the ice and into the water. They then?formed a?human chain to reach the family 25 yards from shore.

"From the time of the call being initiated to us, which was just before 5:30,?til all victims were out of the water was approximately 10 to 11 minutes," Arlington Fire Chief Robert Jefferson told WHDH. "They were very lucky in that sense but this time of year we preach to everybody that no body of water is safe no matter how cold it's been, no matter how thick that ice may be."

Maria Terra-Diaz, one of those rescued,?told WHDH that?the family was "doing very?well" and was "very thankful" to rescuers.

"We just decided to go for a stroll on the pond and we didn't think ? yeah, just not thinking too much," she added.

More content from msnbc.com and NBC News

Source: http://usnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/01/24/10224681-dramatic-rescue-after-ice-gives-way-on-pond

lee evans lee evans birmingham news new england patriots patriots 49ers joe flacco