Woman dies in Lincoln Park pond

A woman died Tuesday after she fell through the ice at the pond at upper Lincoln Park on the South Hill, likely while chasing after her dog.

Fire crews were called to the park around 1:20 p.m. by someone who saw a Husky struggling in the pond, apparently after breaking through the ice, said Assistant Spokane Fire Chief Brian Schaeffer.

Schaeffer said firefighters used ropes and floatation devices to bring out the dog. But the dog did not want to leave the area. And it had a collar on.

Based on the collar and the dog’s behavior, the department’s Water Rescue Team decided to search the pond further and caught hold of a body.

Firefighters were unsure how long the woman was below the surface so they performed resuscitation efforts, and she was taken to Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center where she was pronounced dead, Schaeffer said.

Police responded to search the pond and photograph fingerprints, but didn’t find anyone else. They believe the death was an accident.

“The dog probably got away from her and in her attempt to rescue the dog, she fell through the ice,” said Spokane police Lt. Bart Stevens.

He said anyone who’s concerned about a pet on the ice should call SCRAPS or the fire department rather than trying to rescue the animal themselves.

“It hasn’t been that cold for very long, so the ice hasn’t been very thick,” Stevens said.

The woman was in her 50s. Officials are working to notify her family, and the Spokane County medical examiner will release her name and cause of death.

Her dog was taken to SCRAPS and is unharmed, Stevens said.