Video Shows Man Rescued From Icy Lake After Risking Life To Save Dog

A Massachusetts man was rescued from a lake after attempting to save his dog who had fallen in.

Ed Berger fell into Lake Waban when he tried to reach his dog, Tommy. The pet had run onto the ice and fallen into the freezing water.

Newsweek contacted the Wellesley Fire Department for comment on this story via email.

Why It Matters

Frozen lakes can be treacherous if care is not taken seriously. Several states issue yearly warnings about walking near or on icy water at this time of year, as deceptively thin ice can cause hikers to fall in freezing temperatures, leading to hypothermia, or death in extreme cases.

What To Know

Berger was walking two of his dogs near the lake when one of them chased a bird onto the ice, and subsequently fell into the water.

Berger then attempted to venture out into the lake in order to rescue the animal, after asking a passerby to call 911 for additional help.

Footage of the rescue of Ed Berger and his dog Tommy by the Wellesley Fire Department. Both Berger and his dog have made a full recovery after falling in the lake.

Wellesley Police

However, the two first responders ended up rescuing both of them from the water, and could be seen in a video expertly sliding across the ice on their stomachs, to spread out their surface area and reduce the pressure on the ice.

“The Wellesley Fire Department rescued a person and their dog after both fell through the ice at Lake Waban on Wellesley College on Sunday, January 12, 2025 at 445 PM,” a statement from Wellesley Police read.

“Both human and dog are okay after being evaluated at the hospital and a vet clinic.”

What People Are Saying

In an interview with NBC Boston after the rescue, Ed Berger said: “There’s nothing more horrific than not being able to get to your dog. You love them as if they were family.

“You can see from the video that they’re just absolutely so well-trained. It was just like two guys I was hanging out with. They do this thing and they executed it flawlessly.”

Wellesley Fire Department Deputy Chief Michael Giagante said: “The big message in this case is, if your dog goes in the water, call 911 and wait for help to come.”