Firefighters, police pull deer from icy lagoon

Brick Township firefighters and police officers worked to pull a pair of deer from an icy lagoon on Tuesday afternoon.

BRICK TOWNSHIP - Township first responders reportedly pulled a pair of deer from an icy lagoon off Vanard Drive.

On Tuesday afternoon, a resident alerted authorities about a pair of deer that had fallen through the ice of the lagoon near Drum Point Road, Patch.com reported.

A volunteer Pioneer Fire Company firefighter and a trio of Brick Township police officers were able to use a pair of ropes to lasso and then hoist the deer that was closest to the dock out of the water, the report said.

That deer then immediately ran across the street and jumped into another lagoon, which it also had to be helped out of.

However, the second deer had swam out into the bay and because the water was too icy for boat access, firefighter Ron Gaskill entered the water wearing a dry suit and with a tethered line attached to him with other firefighters holding the lines, Patch.com reported.

Gaskill was able to lasso the deer and walk it back to a nearby dock where first responders were able to get the deer on land.

However, the deer sustained injuries to its legs from falling through the ice and despite efforts from police, firefighters and concerned neighbors to try to warm the deer up, it died during the night, police said.

Brick Township police Sgt. John Talty told Patch.com that the officers were happy to be able to save the one deer, but were sorry they weren't able to save the other.

"We gave it our best effort," he said.