Woman rescued from freezing lake as car sinks

Sebastian Mann Thursday, February 21, 2013
11:00 AM

A woman narrowly escaped fatal consequences this morning when two police officers braved freezing temperatures to save her from a frozen lake.

Following reports of a car accident, police entered the lake, off Totteridge Lane, Barnet, smashed one of the sinking car’s windows and dragged the woman free.

A witness said the woman, as yet unnamed, appeared unconscious as her car headed towards the freezing lake.

Police arrived at the scene just after 8am as the car began to sink, and two police constables promptly put their lives at risk to rescue her.

Barnet Borough commander Adrian Usher: “I am incredibly proud of these officers and would like to pay tribute to the speed and courage with which they acted to protect the life of this driver.

“In the bitterly cold conditions we have today, there is little doubt that a sustained period in the water would have posed a serious threat to the woman’s life.

“This incident demonstrates the lengths that officers in Barnet, London and across the country are willing to go to in order to protect members of the communities they serve, and they are deserving of our utmost gratitude.”

Back on dry land the woman was treated for possible hypothermia before being taken to a north London hospital. Her condition is said to be non-life threatening.

Police enquiries into exactly what happened are ongoing.