Teens fall through ice, are plucked from Natick pond

NATICK - Firefighters staged a dramatic rescue yesterday after two teenagers fell through the ice and became trapped in the icy waters of a Natick pond during a snowstorm.

The incident at Pickerel Pond was reported at about 1:20 p.m. by a resident on Arlington Road who heard their screams for help, said Fire Chief James Sheridan.

Firefighters wearing cold-water-rescue suits responded. They found the youths about 50 yards from shore, struggling to get out of the waist-deep, frigid water and suffering from hypothermia, he said.

They "were in danger of losing their lives," said Sheridan. "They had stopped shivering."

The names of the youths, Natick residents who are ages 15 and 16, were not released.

They were taken by ambulance to MetroWest Medical Center, where they were being treated overnight. Their injuries were not believed to be life-threatening, the chief said.

It wasn't clear why the youths were out on the ice during the storm, which dumped more than 8 inches of snow on the western suburbs Friday and yesterday, but they weren't wearing ice skates, Sheridan said.

Two rescuers gave the victims their protective gear to help keep them warm during the rescue, which took nearly an hour in 20-degree weather.

The rescuers also suffered symptoms of hypothermia and were treated and released at MetroWest Medical Center last night, the chief said.

The pond, located deep in the woods behind East Natick Industrial Park, is fed by warm-water springs and never freezes completely. It is never safe to skate or walk on the frozen water there, authorities said.

"They were very fortunate that our [rescuers] were well trained and well equipped," said Sheridan.

The chief said the situation was Natick's first ice rescue of the season and a close call.

"My message to everyone out there is: Stay off the ice," Sheridan said.

Erica Noonan can be reached at enoonan@globe.com.