Triangle doctors warn against walking on icy ponds or lakes

CARY, N.C. (WTVD) — This morning, doctors are warning people not to attempt to walk on frozen ponds or lakes in the area. This past weekend emergency crews responded to two different incidents.

On Sunday, emergency rescue crews in Cary pulled two people from an icy pond.

It happened just after 12:30 p.m. on Caniff Lane in a neighborhood near Highway 55 and High House Road.

Investigators say a 59-year-old man jumped into the pond after he saw a 10-year-old boy fall through the icy water. The man and the young boy were rescued and taken to the hospital.

Officials say they are expected to recover.

Doctors tell Eyewitness News hypothermia can be life threatening.

“The early stages, you’ll just sort of shiver, but as you get into the dangerously cold temperatures, you lose that response. You can start to get some of the lack of blood flow into your fingers, to your toes. That’s when people start to have the risk of frostbite and the circulation doesn’t really go to your extremities anymore. Then after that, you start to see the effects on the heart and the brain,” said Dr. Christine Knettel with UNC Health.

An 11-year-old boy fell through the ice at Womble Park in Holly Springs on Saturday.

Officials say the child was checked out and reunited with his parents.

First responders are reminding everyone not to go out on to frozen ponds or lakes.