Teacher dies trying to save dog from icy pond in front of husband, CO officials say

A kindergarten teacher has died after falling through a frozen pond trying to save her dog.

Leslie Webster, 53, taught at Colorado Academy, the school confirmed to The Denver Channel.

On Sunday afternoon, Webster’s husband saw her and their dog fall through the pond located at Colorado Academy, according to a Facebook post by West Metro Fire Rescue.

Firefighters reached Webster, pulled her out of the water and rescued the dog.

Both were critically injured, according to the post. Webster was taken to a hospital and the dog was taken to an emergency vet.

Webster had been trying to save her dog from the pond and both later died, according to KCRA3.

“It was difficult in that the ice itself, it was like slushy ice,” Ronda Scholting from West Metro Fire Rescue told the TV station. “So obviously, the ice was not strong enough to hold the dog, and then when the woman went in, it was not strong enough to hold her. So both fell into the water.”

Webster had taught at the school since 2009 and said it was her “ultimate dream job,” Mike Davis, the head of school, told The Denver Channel.

“She will be dearly missed by students, faculty, staff, parents and alumni,” Davis said.

This story was originally published February 13, 2020 at 2:54 PM with the headline "Teacher dies trying to save dog from icy pond in front of husband, CO officials say."