Two people died this week in Colorado after falling through ice, giving us grim reminders of the dangers of winter ice and the tragedies that can result.

According to the Loveland Reporter-Herald, a 4 year old girl died Wednesday evening after falling into a frozen pond. The family was at the Loveland park for soccer practice when the girl apparently wandered off, and on to the ice, and fell through. The girl was found after the father noticed she was no longer at the playground.

The Denver Post reports a 67 year-old  man died Thursday after falling through the ice at Evergreen Lake west of Denver. Greg Henika was on a golf-cart sized tractor with a blade on the front, clearing the ice for a charity golf event when he fell through.

The annual Evergreen Ice Tournament raises money for developmentally disabled adults, but was canceled following the tragedy.

While the winter weather on the front range has been colder than in Western Colorado, overall it's been a mild winter in Colorado making for dangerous ice conditions, especially at the lower elevations.

Falling through ice seldom ends favorably for the victim. Hypothermia can set in less than 30 minutes leaving the victim weak and unable to get out of the water. Yelling for help requires a person to exhale, which promptly causes the victim to sink.

Frozen ponds and lakes should always be approached with extreme caution, and children - of any age- should never be left unattended around frozen bodies of water,  regardless of how solid they may seem.

 

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