Emergency Chaos at Barking Boating Lake After Man Plunges Through Frozen Ice
Just before midnight on Saturday, Barking Boating Lake on Longbridge Road became the scene of a major emergency operation. A man foolishly tried to cross the frozen lake, broke through the ice, and plunged into the freezing water.
The MET Police, London Ambulance Service’s HART team, and the London Fire Service’s swift water rescue unit rushed to the adventure area. Firefighters donned dry suits and launched a boat equipped with thermal imaging cameras to locate the trapped individual.
Man Treated at Scene After Ice Rescue Drama
A London Ambulance Service spokesperson confirmed:
“We were called late on 9 December at 11:55pm to reports at the junction of Longbridge Road and Wilmington Gardens, Barking. “We deployed incident response officers, a fast response medic, and our Hazardous Area Response Team (HART). “One man was treated at the scene.”
Police Chase Ends with Suspect Diving Into Ice-Cold Lake
In a jaw-dropping twist, police revealed this incident followed a high-speed pursuit earlier that same night. At 11.29pm on Friday, 9 December, officers in Park Avenue, Ilford, tried to stop a vehicle. The driver sped off.
Seven minutes later in Lawson Close, he abandoned the car and ran on foot. The chase ended in Barking Park when the suspect jumped into the lake to evade capture – plunging into freezing water before officers dragged him out and made an arrest.
A Met Police spokesperson said:
“He was arrested on suspicion of failing to stop, possessing an offensive weapon, possession of class B drugs, and other driving offences. “The London Ambulance Service assessed him due to exposure to cold water before he was taken into custody.”
