DDN – A dog owner discovered dead in a freezing pond had been hunting for his pet before tragedy struck, according to North Carolina officials.
Phillip Daniel Skelley, 34, most likely fell through the ice while attempting to rescue his dog from the frozen pond, according to the Rockingham County Sheriff’s Office.
“Investigators believe that Skelley’s dog may have been on the ice when it gave way and Skelley attempted to go after the dog to rescue it, but the ice gave way under him as well,” according to a news release issued by deputies. “
At this time, there are no signs of foul play and Mr. Skelley’s death appears to have been an accident.” Skelley’s body was taken from the river following a search that began on Sunday, January 19. As of Jan. 21, the dog had not been located.
“Based on the water temperature and the dangers involved, the underwater search of the pond was discontinued by the Guilford Association of Scuba Professionals (GASP) dive team once Mr. Skelley’s body was recovered,” Lt. Kevin Suthard, a sheriff’s office spokesperson, told McClatchy News via email.
Skelley was reported missing near Reidsville, some 25 miles northeast of Greensboro, and first responders began searching for him. He had gone missing while seeking for his dog.
A K-9 team tracked Skelley to a pond and discovered “two holes in the ice, one larger and one smaller,” indicating that he and the dog had fallen through.
The sheriff’s office stated that several departments worked together to locate Skelley’s body. Skelley was reported missing on a day when temperatures in the vicinity ranged from 45 to 28 degrees.
A burst of heavy precipitation reached central North Carolina two days later, causing snow and hazardous roadways in certain locations, according to the National Weather Service.
Reference: Dog owner found in frigid pond was searching for his pup before he died, NC cops say
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