Boy, 14, rescued from River Foss (From York Press)

Sledge boy rescued from freezing Foss

9:20am Thursday 9th February 2012 in News By Dan Bean, dan.bean@thepress.co.uk

Updated: A TEENAGE boy had to be pulled from a freezing River Foss after the sledge he was playing on went into the water.

The 14-year-old was understood to have been sledging yesterday afternoon near the river bank in Haxby Road between York and New Earswick.

A member of the public called emergency services at just before 4.30pm, and an ambulance and fire crew were sent to the scene.

The boy was rescued from the river by fire crews using triple-extension ladders, with assistance from the ambulance crew, according to North Yorkshire Fire Service.

He was taken to York Hospital after being treated at the scene for the effects of hypothermia, though the full extent of any injuries was not known last night.

Meanwhile the Met Office says York can look forward to a “very unpleasant” two days as sleet, snow and freezing temperatures are forecast for our region in the run up to the weekend.

Rain is expected to fall on already frozen ground this morning as temperatures struggle to get above freezing across the region, bringing warnings of an icy start on our roads.

The gloomy forecast comes the day after Church Fenton in North Yorkshire recorded overnight temperatures of minus 11.8C A spokeswoman for the Met Office said: “As we move towards the evening there’s a risk we could see some snow falling too – maybe five to ten cm. If not snow then it will be cold and damp with sleet.

“The next 48 hours won't be very pleasant in your part of the world.”

Meanwhile, officers from North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service from Malton and Whitby took advantage of the freezing temperatures to carry out a training exercise on a the frozen lake in North Yorkshire.

Station manager Andy Blades, who was in charge of the exercise, said: “Crews practised techniques to rescue a person who may be stranded on ice or fallen through thin ice into the water.

“North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service respond to many water related incidents throughout the year and would remind people, at this time of year, to never walk out onto frozen water, for any reason.

“It may appear thick and safe, but it is a totally unpredictable and dangerous environment.

"The temperature of the water is so low that a person would have only seconds before becoming incapacitated.”

The danger from venturing on to frozen lakes and ponds during the current cold snap has also prompted a warning to dog owners take care.

Daryl Oprey, head of safety at Humberside Fire and Rescue Service said: "If you are a dog owner, I cannot urge you enough to keep your dog on a lead when walking them in areas where there are frozen ponds or lakes. “If your dog gets into difficulty on frozen water, never attempt to go after it, call 999 and ask for the Fire Service."