An everyday stroll turned terrifying for one dog and his owner, who found themselves shivering in the middle of a park pond.

With the frosty weather well and truly hitting the county, Hammond’s Pond, in Upperby Park, Carlisle, was frozen solid.

But when Scottish Terrier Fergus went chasing after a bird on Thursday, the ice gave way and he fell into the icy water – and his owner Harry Atkinson followed.

“I just thought, ‘I have to go in after him’,” the 31-year-old said.

“I could see him struggling to get a grip on the ice, and he was shivering and panting while treading water.

“I thought of calling someone for help, but I knew if Fergus was in there too long he would get hypothermia, so I had to help him.”

Both Mr Atkinson and his partner Clare Gauntlett were surprised by the six-year-old terrier’s decision, as the three regularly walk by the pond, and he has never behaved in such a way before.

Miss Gauntlett said: “The last thing we want is people thinking he was being neglected or not being taken care of, because he is always cared for, and it was such a strange thing for him to do.

“When they came home and I saw they were both soaking wet, I had no idea what had happened, and just made sure they were both warm and safe – Fergus was tucked up in his bed with a hot water bottle all day.”

The 33-year-old continued: “We have a very forlorn looking dog now, and he’s a bit tired from the shock of it all, but otherwise he’s absolutely fine.”

Mr Atkinson added that while he was pleased to have saved the beloved dog, he wouldn’t have done it if there hadn’t been help on-hand.

He said: “There were about 10 people gathered around – we’d attracted a bit of a crowd!

“Looking back, it wasn’t the best decision, and I definitely wouldn’t have gone in if there weren’t other people there helping me.

“I’m so glad we live in a community with so many people willing to help in such a serious situation.”

With the help of a sledge given by a passing youngster, a jumper from a thoughtful mum, and multiple shouts of support and advice, the Carlisle man was able to get his dog home safely – but he knows the situation wasn’t without its risks.

He said: “I’m not taking it for granted at all – it could have been a much worse outcome if one thing had been different, so I know we’re very, very lucky.”

Miss Gauntlett added: “You never think this sort of thing will happen to you, then when it does it’s such a scary shock.

“We will definitely be keeping Fergus on his lead near water until the weather warms up, and I think all dog owners should be more wary of what their dogs are up to in this sort of weather.

“I’m so glad Harry stayed so calm and did such an amazing job of saving him, and I’m just so glad they’re both okay.”

While it’s a happy ending for Fergus and his owners, Carlisle East Fire Station has shared a warning, urging all to keep an eye on their children and pets when near frozen water.

A spokesman said: “Over the last decade, 20 people have drowned after falling through ice on frozen lakes or waterways, and many others have been rescued and resuscitated. Because of their inquisitive nature, children are especially at risk.

“There is no way of telling how thick the ice is, so the advice is to simply stay off it.

“It can crack at any time, and if it does, the risks are compounded by the temperature of the water underneath. Even strong swimmers are unlikely to survive for long in the freezing water.

“Several people have died trying to rescue a pet dog which has fallen through the ice. Sadly the outcome of many of these cases was better for the dogs, which managed to scramble out of the water to safety.”

They added: “If older children are walking dogs unsupervised, the advice is to keep them on the lead and never throw a stick or ball out onto the ice.”