Aurora Woman Falls in Icy Pond While Trying to Rescue Dog

AURORA, IL — When Aurora resident Cathy Medernach fell into the icy water while trying to save her dog, thoughts of her family flashed before her, thinking this was her end.

Medernach’s dog, Bailey, had fallen through the thin layer of ice covering the pond near their house in the 2500 block of Coach and Surrey Lane, according to a report from the Chicago Tribune. Cathy took to the water in a canoe and a broom since she was unable to find the oar. But during the rescue, the boat tipped, and Cathy found herself in need of rescue.

"I thought that I would be able to get myself back into the canoe, but I didn't have the strength. I tried using the ice as leverage, but that didn't work. I have bruises on my legs to show for it," she told the Tribune.

Cathy began screaming as loud as she could. Her son, Caden, heard her cries and came running. Cathy told him to call for help. He called his dad, who told him to call 911.

Minutes later, police arrived and rescued Cathy from the freezing water. She was between 10 and 15 feet from the shoreline, according to the Tribune. Police tossed a rope to Cathy and pulled her back in.

But Bailey was still in the water, and the thin layer of ice made it difficult for rescuers to get to him.

"The diver would slide on top of the sled and the ice would crush beneath him," Aurora battalion fire chief Ed Oros told the Tribune. "He'd go on top of sled again and make another foot forward and the ice broke again. The other diver made his way in front of the sled and used the weight of his body to break the ice.

The divers were finally able to make a path to Bailey and helped the Labrador swim back to shore.

photo via Shutterstock