Ariz. teens rescued from tree after lake ice crack

In a Wednesday, Jan 2, 2013 photo provided by the Lakeside Fire District, two teenagers hang on to a dead tree while trapped after the ice on the lake started to crack, in Show Low, Ariz. / Kirk Webb,AP Photo/Lakeside Fire District

SHOW LOW, Ariz. Two teenagers were rescued after spending two frigid hours hanging onto a dead tree after ice on an Arizona state park lake began to crack, authorities said Thursday.

Each of the teenagers lost a shoe that got stuck to the ice, and both were taken to a hospital for treatment of mild hypothermia after being rescued Wednesday, said Show Low Fire District Capt. Brent Mix.

A third teen stayed on the snow-covered bank of Fool Hollow Lake and called for help when the other two got stuck.

"Their hands and feet got pretty cold," Mix said. "It was dark by the time we got them to shore."

A firefighter in a protective suit crawled across the lake with a rope to reach the tree where other two teens were perched, and he then used the rope to pull over a boat carrying two other firefighters, Mix said.

The teens then got in the boat and it was pulled back to shore, Mix said.

"Every once in a while we have kids trying to see how far out they can go," Mix said. "That was pretty foolish. There was probably an inch of ice in the middle of the lake."

A total of 25 fire and other emergency personnel from several agencies responded.

[WthyrBendragon]

While the kids were foolish for going out on the lake I blame the overwhelming response on the dispatcher and other response personnel who failed to take advantage of information from the safe third person on scene to safely determine that 2 people with a rope and a boat would be a sufficient and safe response force. Do not blame the kids for the dispatcher sending an entire brigade.

[jntlw]

Very few of us have not done something dumb in our youth so give the kids a break. I'm just glad the boys were resuced and are safe.

[canislupus16]

"A total of 25 fire and other emergency personnel from several agencies responded."
Plus assorted equipment and the associated operating expenses, and all the while diverting personnel from other emergencies which would have required backup personnel to be called in.
You know where I'm going with this... send them a bill for the costs which are probably anywhere from $5,000 to $15,000. This wasn't bad luck or an accident, it was stupidity.

[WthyrBendragon]

The over-the-top level of response is on the dispatcher. They had someone on scene reporting the exact situation and could have safely determined that two people with a boat and a rope were sufficient. While the kids were foolish for being out on the lake the overzealous emergency response dispatcher deserves at least a verbal lashing.

[ugleyme]

Older and wiser. We hope.

[dman6015]

When will teenagers stop believing in IKE (I Know Everything)? Doctors and scientists say that the human brain isn't fully developed until the early 20s. Guess that explains a lot.

[bilrobi1]

I'm guessing they were rescued only after checking their immigration status.

[workerdroid]

Their parents must be proud of them.

[superdem1]

Fool Hollow Lake, huh ? Good name, these kids are lucky. This story could have had a very different ending. Kids - please don't risk your lives on such foolishness.