Horse Trapped In Frozen Pond In Virginia Rescued After Hours Of Effort [Photos]

Several rescue workers slogged for hours to save a horse that had fallen into a frozen pond on Christmas Day in Bedford County, Virginia.

Rescue crews responded to the 1300 block of Artwood Drive in Huddleston after receiving reports of the horse in the pond around 7:41 p.m. ET. According to the Bedford Fire Department, Special Operations Units -- A7, E7, RE8, R5, U3, M74, M75, TAC1, R1, and RAV1 – worked together to seamlessly bring the trapped animal to safety.

"WOW! Poor thing - hope he was warmed up quickly when he got out. SO many rescuers - I am so proud of them all and what they accomplished. Thank you all for your tremendous work," a Facebook user commented under BFD's post, thanking them for their service. "What a blessing. I hope the horse is ok," commented a second, while a third wrote, "Thank you for saving this horse from freezing in this water. Sorry to hear it died despite your efforts."

The rescue came on the heels of a similar incident in Montana earlier this month. Four horses had become stuck in a frozen pond in the Kalispell community on Dec. 5 after which dozens from the community helped the South Kalispell Fire Department and other crews worked together in the rescue. The animals had turned quite agitated while being stuck in ice-cold waters. They were taken to a nearby veterinary clinic for care and observation after being rescued, FoxWeather reported.

Extreme weather has claimed many lives across the country, and the numbers are expected to grow as the "blizzard of the century" continues to wreak havoc. The dead include a 19-year-old from Prince William County, Virginia. He fell through the ice on a pond on Christmas Eve and first responders rushed him to the hospital where he was pronounced dead.

The winter storms also brought snow and subzero temperatures in Indiana, causing ice formations on lakes and ponds. The Deputy Chief of the Bargersville Fire Department issued a statement asking everyone to stay away from ponds as they could be a potential "death trap." Mike Pruitt said, "There is no such thing as 100% safe ice," and asked everyone to keep an eye out, especially for children and animals, WishTV reported.

The Indiana Department of Natural Resources also issued the following safety tips.

• Before going on the ice, leave a note of your whereabouts with a friend or family member.
• If you don't know the thickness of the ice, don't step on it.
• Some bodies of water can appear to be frozen solid but have thin ice in several potentially unexpected areas.
• Flowing water, such as rivers and streams, should be avoided when covered by a layer of ice.