Emergency Blitz at Barking Boating Lake After Man Falls Through Ice
Emergency crews swarmed Barking Boating Lake late Saturday night after a man attempting to cross the frozen lake plunged into icy water. The dramatic rescue mission kicked off just before midnight on Longbridge Road, Barking.
Firefighters and Paramedics Use Thermal Cameras in Rescue Hunt
The MET Police, London Ambulance Service’s Hazardous Area Response Team (HART), and the London Fire Service’s swift water rescue team rushed to the adventure area. Firefighters donned dry suits and launched a boat, using thermal imaging cameras to search the freezing lake for the missing man.
One Man Treated at Scene Amid Intense Rescue Effort
A London Ambulance Service spokesperson confirmed:
“We were called yesterday (9 December) at 11:55pm to reports of an incident at the junction between Longbridge Road and Wilmington Gardens, Barking. We sent a number of resources to the scene, including incident response officers, a medic in a fast response car, and members of our hazardous area response unit (HART). We treated one man at the scene.”
Separate Incident: Driver Jumps Into Lake During Police Chase
In a grim twist, police revealed a related incident earlier that night around 11:30pm in Ilford. Officers on patrol in Park Avenue tried to stop a suspicious vehicle — but the driver sped off, eventually ditching the car in Lawson Close and fleeing on foot.
The suspect was chased into Barking Park, where he jumped into the lake before being apprehended.
The Met Police confirmed he was arrested on suspicion of failing to stop, possession of an offensive weapon, Class B drugs offences, and other driving violations. The man was treated by London Ambulance Service for exposure to the cold water before being taken into custody.
