VIDEO: Two Jefferson County deputies didn’t hesitate to plunge into freezing, dangerously thin ice Wednesday evening, breaking through the pond to save two teenage girls who had fallen through at the Madras fairgrounds.
Deputies from the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office and crews from Jefferson County Fire & EMS arrived within minutes to find the two girls, ages 15 and 16, trapped in the frigid water near the north end of the pond. Rescuers encountered hazardous conditions, including ice that was only 1.5 to two inches thick.
The teenagers were part of a group hanging out at the fairgrounds around 5 p.m. when they decided to walk onto the ice. The thin surface quickly cracked, causing the pair to plunge into the freezing water. Their friends called 911 for help as the two girls reported experiencing extreme cold and exhaustion.
Deputies CJ Linden and Charles Hatcher arrived at the pond within minutes and began breaking through the ice to reach the teens. Sergeant Ben Toops then entered the water with rescue equipment to complete the rescue. Body camera footage released by the sheriff’s office shows the deputies pulling the two girls to safety using a bodyboard and rope.
