Rhode Island firefighters rescue dog from icy pond on New Year’s Day
WESTERLY, Jan 4: A yellow Labrador out for a walk with his owner in Rhode Island had to be rescued by firefighters on New Year’s Day after he wandered onto a thin layer of ice covering a pond and fell through the center.
According to the Misquamicut Fire Department, volunteer firefighters and other emergency officials were dispatched early Thursday morning for a water rescue. Once on scene, firefighters saw a dog named Phoenix struggling and unable to move to shore in the slushy, icy water.
Members from both the Misquamicut and Watch Hill fire departments donned ice rescue suits, which help protect the body from frigid temperatures, to enter the pond and successfully rescue Phoenix.
The National Weather Service reported it was 26 degrees Fahrenheit around 9 a.m. on Thursday, with the wind chill dropping the temperature to 14 degrees.
“It was the chillest dog I’ve ever seen in my life,” said Steve Howard, deputy chief of the Misquamicut Fire Department, in a phone interview on Friday. “The dog never made a sound. He was pretty chill.”
While the firefighters were evaluated for possible hypothermia, they did not require treatment. The fire departments described the incident as “a successful first call of 2026,” in a statement posted on Facebook.
Phoenix was also declared free of injuries, but Howard made sure to check in with his owner later on Thursday.
“He got a little bit of extra food last night,” Howard said. “And he took a little nap.”
The incident served as a reminder to treat all ice as potentially dangerous, particularly over bodies of water, the fire department warned.
“No ice is ever safe. Our firefighters train extensively for cold water and ice rescues, but these situations are extremely dangerous,” the fire department said. (AP)
Chinese teachers, students take part in Hindi Diwas event in Beijing
Beijing, Jan 4: Teachers and students from several Beijing-based Chinese universities have participated in Vishwa Hindi Diwas 2026 celebrations organised by the Indian Embassy here.
Tsinghua University’s Institute for International & Area Studies Professor and Dean Dr Jiang Jingkui, a noted Hindi exponent in China, shared valuable insights on the important role of the Hindi language in understanding India at the meeting, the Embassy said in its post on X.
Teachers and students from Tsinghua University, Peking University, Beijing Foreign Studies University, Beijing International Studies University, and Communication University of China came together with other lovers of the language to celebrate its vitality and cultural richness.
The Embassy felicitated the winners of various competitions, including story writing, poetry, and short video making, in recognition of their creativity. (PTI)
