Icy Water

It was the bitterest December and wonder of all wonders it had actually snowed, bathing everything in pure white heaven. On top of this, the pond in the middle of the common had frozen over and the ducks were uncertainly sliding around, resorting to finding food from passers-by.

It was here I met Lin swaddled in several layers and a wind proof anorak. I hadn’t seen her in months and her forced smile spoke of the cold that was making her pink lips a purply blue.

“Coffee?” She said, producing a large thermos flask from her rucksack side pocket.

“Love some!” I exclaimed enthusiastically.

She produced some reusable plastic cups and poured out a strong black coffee. “Sugar?” She grinned, producing a selection of shop style sachets and a small wooden spoon.

“Yes please,” I smiled, “you know I’ve got a hopelessly sweet tooth.”

“I know.” She laughed: “I knew you couldn’t cope with black coffee without it.”

I accepted the steaming cup and blew on it vigorously. “It’ll be too hot to drink for ages.” I said.

“Sorry.” She said: “But I couldn’t risk a tepid drink in this weather, it’ll cool down fast.”

As I continued to blow on the steaming black liquid, I saw a small child approach the edge of the pond. Before I knew it, she was sliding out onto the ice, giggling as she did so.

Then I heard an almighty crack and before I knew it the blue romper suited child had disappeared into the freezing water of the pond.

“Oh God.” I exclaimed. I dropped my coffee to the ground and dashed past a startled Lin to the other side of the pond where the child had set out. The anorak came off, the layers came off in one go and I hauled off my boots and plunged myself t-shirt and trousers into the icy water.

The pond was not that deep, but it was murky, so it took me a while of flailing about on the surface to identify the point at which to make a surface dive. I groped around blindly underwater, too cautious to open my eyes in such cold water and finally my hands hit body.

It took all of my strength to pull her to the surface. Once surfaced I saw Lin standing open mouthed next to whom I assumed must be the child’s mother.

“Give me a hand.” I said, as I pulled the child to the edge of the pond. Between the three of us we hauled her onto the snow-covered earth. She was frighteningly blue in the face and the woman I assumed to be her mother burst into tears, at her closed eyes and still body.

I had done a life saving course at school when I was young and from it vaguely remembered the basics of CPR.

With children they always advise less pressure. I was so nervous, but I knew an ambulance would take ages to get here in such treacherous conditions.

One, two, three breathe, one, two, three breathe. It seemed like a life time of repetition before the girl finally shook and choked up dirty pond water. I was actually relieved at this point to see her shiver. Then I realised that I was freezing too and now half-dressed in the snow. I laughed with relief.

“I’ve called an ambulance.” Said Lin.

“Thank you.” Said the other woman: “She is my adopted daughter. You must think me a terrible mother.”

“No.” I said surprised: “It could happen to anyone. Kids are very adventurous.”

By the time the ambulance arrived Lilly’s adopted mother Joan had introduced myself and I had wrapped myself in my still dry anorak.

Three years on and we all still know each other. We go to the pond every winter to have fun and remember why Lilly is still with us. I have never done anything better in my life.