Man and dog saved after falling through ice in East Greenwich

By: Ellie Romano

Email: ERomano@ABC6.com

Twitter: @ERomanoABC6

EAST GREENWICH, R.I. (WLNE) – A man and his dog are lucky to be alive after falling through the ice of a pond in East Greenwich.

It happened around 11:00 a.m. Sunday when three-year-old Coco, a Cavapoo, went chasing after a flock of ducks. 

“We realized we lost sight of her,” said her owner, Alan Weiss.

Then, they heard Coco whining in the distance. She had fallen through the ice of the pond near the house. 

“We saw her about 30 yards away from the bank, holding on with her front paws. I was afraid she’d get hypothermia and lose her grip,” said Weiss.

Without hesitation, Weiss ran into the water after her. 

“You just do what you have to do. You don’t think about it,” said Weiss.

But then he got stuck too.

“I got about 25 yards out and instead of making headway I started to walk in place,” said Weiss.

Then his other dog, a German Sheppard, jumped in the water to try and save Weiss.

His wife called 9-1-1 and East Greenwich first responders quickly arrived.

“One of the [police] officers got out and threw me a line,” said Weiss. “My wife got the German Sheppard out by calling him.”

A firefighter in a cold water exposure suit swam out to rescue Coco. But the Cavapoo was scared and put up a fight.

“In the process of bringing the dog up onto the ice [the firefighter] got bit in the face, unfortunately,” said Capt. Kenneth Montville with the East Greenwich Fire Dept.

Coco then bit the firefighter a second time, but he was determined to save the dog. 

 “The second time he got bit he got the dog onto the ice and let her go. The dog ran back to her owner,” said Montville.

Weiss was extremely thankful for the hard work of the East Greenwich first responders. 

“I wouldn’t have blamed that rescue person for turning around and saying this is too dangerous. But that’s not what they do. And that was for a dog. So I’m really happy to be living here,” said Weiss.

The firefighter who was bitten was treated and released from the hospital. He’s now home recovering. Capt. Montville said he will need additional treatment for his injuries. 

Both Weiss and Coco were uninjured.

The following day, Weiss said he went to the Police and Fire Departments with donuts to say thank you again.

©WLNE-TV/ABC6 2020