NORFOLK, Va. — A child was rescued Sunday after falling through the ice in a retention pond in Norfolk, according to the city's Fire & Rescue department.
The child fell in the water in a pond in the apartment complex off Sellger Drive.
Norfolk Fire and Rescue said they arrived to find the father and child in the water.
The child was taken to CHKD for evaluation.
The incident was a reminder of the tragedy that occurred almost one year ago in Virginia Beach with 12-year-old Juan Mejia Acevedo, who fell through the ice in a retention point in his apartment complex and died on Jan. 24.
WTKR meteorologist Tony Nargi said ice in the region is often thin and unpredictable.
“I would say never trust any ice you see around here,” Nargi said.
Nargi said hypothermia can occur quickly when someone falls into cold water. He added that retention ponds are especially dangerous because ice thickness can vary.
“The thicker ice will be at the edge of the pond, and the ice will get thinner as you go toward that fountain,” Nargi said. “As you walk out, you could fall in even though right at the edge you were able to walk safely.”
