Teenager recovering after being rescued from Bedford County pond

Other than being cold, Jacquelyn escaped with no injuries

BEDFORD COUNTY, Va. – A teenager is recovering Thursday night after she was pulled from a frozen pond.

It happened at about 3 p.m. in the New London neighborhood in Forest.

Jacqueline Johnson is trying to keep warm after being rescued from a freezing pond.

"They were super quick. I was really thankful for that, that I wasn't stuck out there too long," said Jacqueline.

Jacqueline and two other people were riding around on inner tubes attached to a utility vehicle when a rope broke. She was able to stay on the inner tube but went sliding across the pond and when she stopped, the ice shattered. Jacqueline says her friends tried to help her get back to shore, but when they couldn't, they called 9-1-1.

"When we got there we had two ice rescue technicians already suited up. They were deployed into the water and broke the ice and swam out to her to get the inner tube and herself back to shore," said Bryan Byrd, assistant chief of Forest Fire Department.

Byrd says the rescue went perfectly. He credits that to lifesaving training. Just a few weeks ago, the Forest Fire Department along with Lynchburg Fire Department spent a day out on the water training for ice rescues. 

"It is very helpful, especially in the wintertime and as cold as it's gotten lately, down in the teens and single digits," said Byrd.

Other than being cold, Jacqueline wasn't hurt, just grateful for the first responders who jumped in freezing water to save her.

"Just thank you a lot. Sorry you had to come out here," said Jacqueline.

Jacqueline says she may be done riding around the pond for now.
 

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