Cross-country skier rescued after falling through ice in Sudbury

SUDBURY, Mass. — Three firefighters pulled a cross-country skier from the frigid waters of Willis Lake in Sudbury on Tuesday afternoon.

The incident is just the latest in a series of ice rescues this winter – and with many students on February vacation this week, rescue crews are warning everyone to stay off the ice.

It's why the Boston Fire Department recently trained for ice rescues on the Charles River.

"We work on these throughout the year because we want to make sure the kinks and mistakes are happening here and not the real world," said Boston Fire Lt. Michael Dunnigan.

Related: First responders hold cold water rescue drills ahead of bitter blast

Sadly, it did happen in the real world in Dover, N.H. on February 1 when a 12-year-old boy took a short cut on the way home from school; he never made it.

Searchers noticed tracks leading to the Bellamy River. Police believe the boy walked out on the ice and fell through.

"Ice over rivers isn't the same as ponds or lakes and that ice can be very thin," said Lt. Brant Dolleman of the Dover Police Department in New Hampshire. "Certainly, it’s iced over, it's been a cold few days, but it’s just not that thick."

Related: Body of missing 12-year-old from Dover, NH pulled from Bellamy River

There was another close call in January in Westborough after a teen skating on Mill Pond plummeted through the ice. A 19-year-old man was unable to escape the frigid water; several people called 911.

"When we arrived we could hear but we couldn’t see a male screaming for help," said Westborough Fire Chief Patrick Purcell.

Firefighters saved the teen. He was shivering and suffering from hypothermia but survived.

Related: Teen rescued after falling through ice in Westborough pond

Cold weather freezes lakes, ponds and rivers. People are warned to stay off the ice because it’s always a risk. Still people wander out and local fire departments, like Sudbury’s, stand by ready to do what they’ve trained for, hoping that training will pay off.

>>>MORE: Ice safety tips for safe winter fun

Cox Media Group