Man, two dogs rescued from frozen Mass. marsh

REVERE, Mass., Feb. 20 (UPI) -- Firefighters in Massachusetts said a man attempting to rescue his two dogs from a frozen marsh ended up stuck in the waist-high mud, ice and snow.

The Revere Fire Department said Albert Sheridan, 56, attempted to rescue dogs Thunder and Lola in the morning Thursday when he realized the canines had climbed a snow mound to get over their home's 5-foot-fence.

Sheridan soon discovered he was stuck in the waist-high ice, mud and snow.

Jacqueline Dascoli, 16, Sheridan's stepdaughter, called 911.

"I was calm on the outside, but inside I was dying," Dascoli told the Boston Herald. "Oh my god, is my dad going to be OK? Are my dogs going to be rescued? It was terrifying."

Firefighters pulled Sheridan free and he was transported to Massachusetts General Hospital while firefighters set to work rescuing the dogs.

"He said he was having some chest pain. Been there for a little while and said he didn't think he was going to get out of there, so he was happy to see us," Deputy Fire Chief Chris Bright told WHDH-TV.

Bright said rescuers spent about 90 minutes working to get the dogs onto a rescue sled. The canines were checked out at a local veterinarian's office.

"We are forever grateful to the Revere Fire Department," said Sheridan's wife, Wendy. "I'm just so thrilled because the outcome could've been catastrophic."