Officials rescue man and dog from frozen pond in High Point

Firefighters and police rescued a man and his dog who became stranded on the ice of a stormwater retention pond after slipping down a steep, icy embankment in northern High Point, officials said.

Emergency crews were dispatched at 8:57 p.m. to the 4100 block of Carroll Ridge Court, just north of Skeet Club Road near Oak Hollow Lake, after the pair were found on top of the frozen pond. The High Point Fire Department said the man and his dog “had slipped down the steep, icy embankment in the 4100 block of Carroll Ridge Court, which is north of Skeet Club Road near Oak Hollow Lake, just before 9 p.m. and couldn’t get back up.”

Crews lowered themselves down the embankment to reach the pair. High Point Police Department officers assisted firefighters using ropes and a basket to pull the man and his dog back up to solid ground. Local reports put the on-scene operation at about 45 minutes from start to finish; officials confirmed both the man and the dog were removed safely and were not injured.

An on-scene interview identified the rescued man as Robert Barbera. Authorities have not released additional personal details and the fire department has not reported any citations or follow-up actions tied to the call.

The location is a small, iced-over stormwater retention pond in a residential area near Oak Hollow Lake and Timberwolf Avenue. Such features can look solid in cold weather but hide thin ice and steep banks that make self-rescue difficult. One local weather block published on the same news page showed temperatures near 20 degrees Fahrenheit with overnight lows around 14 and a strong chance of snow and wind - conditions that increase the risk of slippery embankments and unstable ice.

For Guilford County residents, the episode is a practical reminder about winter waterfront safety. Retention ponds are common in new subdivisions and are not maintained for public skating. Pets can lead people onto hazardous ice, and steep banks can prevent an easy return to shore. High Point emergency responders demonstrated coordinated rope-rescue techniques that required both departments to work together and take time to secure the scene.

Officials urged caution near frozen ponds and waterways. While no injuries were reported in this case, the response consumed nearly an hour of emergency resources that could otherwise have served other calls. Residents should keep pets leashed near ponds, avoid walking onto ice, and call 911 rather than attempting risky rescues themselves.

Authorities recommend contacting the High Point Fire Department or Police Department for verification of address details or further information on the response. The incident serves as a cold-weather wake-up call for neighbors around Oak Hollow Lake and across Guilford County.