Woman Who Fell Through Ice Into Pond Near Colorado Academy Dies

DENVER, CO — A woman who fell into an icy pond near Colorado Academy on Sunday has died. She was a kindergarten teacher at the academy.

West Metro Fire Rescue arrived at 3800 South Pierce around 12:30 p.m. after the woman's husband phoned 911. He told dispatchers that he saw his wife and their dog fall through the ice in Woody's Pond, fire officials said.

"It took crews about six minutes to arrive at the pond, and two minutes after they arrived on scene, we had a firefighter in the water in an ice rescue suit who was able to get to the patient," West Metro spokesperson Ronda Scholting said.

The rescue crew said the ice was around two inches thick and not very stable, but they were able to get both the woman and the dog out of the pond.

"In the area where the woman and the dog fell through, it was kind of slushy ice," Scholting said.

The woman was taken to a hospital in critical condition, and died Tuesday.

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The dog, which was also in critical condition, was taken to an emergency veterinarian. The dog has also died, fire officials said.

The woman has been identified as Leslie Webster, according to a Colorado Academy email to families obtained by Fox 31. She leaves behind her husband and two daughters.

It's not known why Webster and her dog were on the ice; however, West Metro Fire Rescue is reminding pet owners not to chase dogs onto the ice.

"Whether it's an animal or a human that has fallen through, call 911," Scholting said. "We rescue animals all the time out of the water — two years ago we actually rescued a deer that had gone out onto the ice on a reservoir and had fallen through."