Man and dog safe after falling through icy pond in Columbia

Two people and a dog are safe Thursday night after a man fell through an icy pond in south Columbia.

The incident happened after 3:00 p.m. in the 4000 block of Hyde Park Avenue.

The man’s neighbor was able to pull the victim and the dog from the water.

The man’s dog fell through ice on the pond, so when he tried to rescue the animal from the freezing water, he fell in himself.

Authorities said several neighbors saw him fall through the ice and called for help.

At least 11 units responded to the scene, but the neighbor was able to save them both before help arrived.

“I grabbed my kayak and my paddles and just ran around the lake trying to do something. By the time I got to the dock over here he had already gotten close enough that I just put the kayak in the water, he grabbed the end of it, and I pulled him in,” said neighbor Eric Dunn.

Authorities told ABC 17 the victim was treated on the scene and declined further medical attention.

They said you should never try to rescue someone or an animal on your own, but should instead call for help.