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NEW HARMONY, Washington County — An officer pried an 8-year-old from the middle of an ice-covered pond on Christmas, authorities said.
The child, whose name has not been released, fell through the ice and into the water while chasing after his dog about 5 p.m. Monday, said Washington County Sheriff's Lt. David Crouse.
Another child saw him plunge into the pond about 25 feet from the shore and ran back to tell the boy's parents, Crouse said.
Sheriff's Sgt. Aaron Thompson was the first to respond and punched a path through the ice until he was close enough to dive in and retrieve the boy from under the surface, Crouse said.
Thompson had no special equipment and removed his own gear to rescue the boy, he said.
An emergency crew made sure the child was "as stable as possible" before a medical helicopter brought him from the small Washington County town to Dixie Regional Medical Center.
The boy was alive when he was on the way to the hospital, Crouse said, and was still being treated late Monday. No further details on his condition were available.
The responding officer also was treated for hypothermia and cuts from breaking through the ice, Crouse said.
