women watch child smash icy pond with hammer while standing on it in richmond park

Frost and snow hit Richmond Park this morning (Picture: Jamie Lorriman)

This is the moment two women appear to ignore safety warnings and let a child smash an icy pond with a hammer while standing on it.

The youngster,who looked to be of primary school age,was pictured near the water’s edge of Pen Ponds in London’s Richmond Park.

In one hand,the boy had a hammer,and in the other,he had a screwdriver.

He and two women watching him were just yards away from a sign telling people not to go onto the ice.

A dog was also running around on the ice nearby as the two women stood smiling and chatting.

Safety experts and health officials have long stressed that people should not walk on the ice and ahead of Storm Goretti,this hasn’t changed.

The boy was unharmed (Picture: Jamie Lorriman)

A dog was also photographed walking on the ice (Picture: Jamie Lorriman)

Yet one man fell into a frigid lake in Connaught Water in Epping Forest,Essex,on Sunday afternoon while trying to save his dog.

A passer-by was filmed rescuing the dog walker,jumping into the lake before lying on the ice and pulling himself up.

He then reaches for the dog walker with his hands and tugs him out,with both men being treated by paramedics afterwards.

One of the men was taken to Whipps Cross Hospital in Leytonstone,east London,for further assessment.

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Royal Parks,which manages Richmond Park,told Metro: ‘During this current cold snap,some lakes in the Royal Parks have frozen over,and visitors are strongly urged not to venture onto them as the ice is extremely thin and dangerously unstable.

‘Warning signs instructing visitors not to enter the lakes are clearly displayed,and it is vital that these warnings are followed for everyone’s safety.’

The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) stressed that while a frozen lake may seem sturdy,it’s more wafer-thin than it seems.

‘For this reason,we’re urging people to stay well clear of frozen water,keep children away,and ensure dogs are kept on leads.’

Falling through the ice can be dangerous as freezing water can cause hypothermia,which can be deadly,making it hard for people to climb out.

Pet owners are being urged not to go after their dogs if they fall through – 50% of ice-related drownings involve the attempted rescue of a dog.

How to brave the winter weather safely

Even London has seen some of the white stuff today (Picture: Aaron Chown/PA Wire)Here are some tips from RoSPA,an accident prevention charity,about how to navigate this week’s wintry conditions:

Stay off the ice

Frozen water can look stronger and more solid than it really is. If the ice cracks and you fall into freezing water,you’re at risk of hypothermia,cardiac arrest and drowning.

Stay away from the water’s edge in winter

Fallen leaves and snow can obscure boundaries,so be sure to keep a safe distance from the water’s edge

Put your dog on a lead

We recommend you keep your dog on a lead near frozen water and save your ball games and stick-throwing for safer spaces.  

Supervise children

Keep a close eye on them at all times and make sure they understand the basics of winter water safety.  

Read the signs

Take a minute or two to read about potential hazards – these signs could just save your life.