ARVADA — Like clockwork, the 83-year-old man and his black-and- white husky would walk, morning and afternoon, along Four Acre Lake.
But Wednesday afternoon, something went terribly wrong.
Authorities got a call that a dog had fallen into the water.
Rescue teams pulled the dog out of the icy water alive, but then discovered a baseball cap floating nearby.
When dive teams searched the water, they found the body of the man.
Medical crews performed CPR on the man and transported him to Lutheran Medical Center. He was declared dead at the hospital Wednesday evening.
“It’s a tragic situation. We can’t figure out why they were so close to the water,” said Bob Shaw, who lives across the street and saw the man and dog walking the path around the lake.
Arvada police spokeswoman Susan Medina said authorities have identified the man, but witheld his name pending notification of family.
She said a woman called dispatch about 3:20 p.m. to report a dog had fallen into the lake at West 51st Avenue and Garrison Street.
The dog became stuck in the water because there were still patches of ice.
The man’s body was found about 7 to 10 feet from shore in water that is up to 10 feet deep, said Lt. Dustin Horn of West Metro Fire Rescue.
Horn wasn’t sure whether the man went in to rescue the dog or whether the man had fallen into the water first and the dog followed him.
Officials said the dog was taken to Arvada animal control and was in good condition.
People and pets need to take precautions when walking near water this time of year, he said.
Many metro-area ponds and small lakes ice over during the winter months, but with this spell of warm weather — Wednesday’s high was 71 — ice is melting fast.
Neighbors said the ice at Four Acre Lake had only begun thawing a few days ago, but already there is more water than ice.
People should never go out on the ice or water to rescue a pet, Horn said. Instead, call authorities or let the dog get out on its own.
“They can break through the ice and become a victim as well,” Horn said.
Carlos Illescas: 303-954-1175 or cillescas@denverpost.com
With additional information from The Associated Press
