'YOU'RE DICING WITH DEATH'

The young people, who walked right out to the island in the centre of the lake, seemed oblivious to the dangers.

People walking in the park at the time shouted at them to come back, but they carried on.

One man said onlookers were terrified the young people, who he thought were in their middle teens, were going to go through the ice.

"They didn't seem to realise the danger they were in" he said. "People were shouting warnings to them but they just went on."

The incident was reported to the police who say they have spoken to those concerned.

It happened just days after a man was rescued from a lake in Lurgan when he went in to try and save his dog which had fallen through the ice. Two park rangers managed to pull him to safety just in time.

A Lisburn police spokesperson warned people about the danger of playing on the ice, saying that the consequences could be fatal.

"Parents are also advised to be mindful of where their children are during the cold weather and to warn them of the dangers of playing around frozen lakes or ponds," he said.

"Police cannot stress strongly enough the dangers of such activity. There is no uniformity in the formation of ice and while it may seem sturdy and able to support weight it can become very thin very quickly. The surface can easily crack, give way and individuals can fall through. At the temperatures experienced locally over recent days, the consequences could be fatal.

"Frozen rivers and lakes are not playgrounds; everyone should be reminded of this.

"If you see someone, or a pet, fall through the ice and get into difficulty never try and rescue them yourself instead ring 999 immediately," he concluded.

The Vice Chair of Lagan Valley SDLP Aisling Twomey echoed the warning and said: "If someone does fall through the ice at the temperatures we have been experiencing the consequences could be fatal.

"Frozen lakes or ponds are potential death trap," she continued. "The best way to stay safe is never venture out onto the ice. Ensure that your children are aware of the dangers and do not play near these areas during freezing weather."

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