Puppy dies after falling through ice

People are being urged to keep their dogs on a lead (stock image)

Firefighters are urging people to take care around frozen water after a puppy died.

The fire service said the dog had chased some geese at Hanley Park in Stoke-on-Trent after escaping from its harness and broke through a layer of ice on Tuesday morning.

Firefighters wearing dry suits entered the water to retrieve the dog and gave it oxygen therapy, but it later died.

Group manager James Green, who went to the scene, said the tragedy could have happened to anyone.

'Frozen water unforgiving'

“We want to make sure people take extra steps to limit the chances of getting into difficulty with frozen water,” he said.

“We strongly recommend that dogs are walked on a lead at all times during the cold weather and people take alternative routes to avoid going near open water.

“If your dog is in difficulty and is unable to get out of frozen water, call us immediately and never attempt a rescue yourself.”

He said that during freezing conditions, it can quickly become impossible to swim without specialist equipment and those entering the water often require rescue themselves.

He praised the owners of the dog for doing everything possible by calling 999 and making themselves visible to fire crews attending the incident.

He added: “Frozen water can be unforgiving and we are urging people to take extra precautions.”

The cold spell is expected to last until Friday, according to the Met Office.