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Grande Prairie — Horses struggling after falling through thin ice Sunday in northwestern Alberta were saved by rescuers who cut paths to the shore with chainsaws.

Trevor Grant, the County of Grande Prairie’s fire chief, said 10 horses fell through a frozen dugout on a rural property.

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Only their heads were visible above the open patches of water that surrounded them.

Firefighters in yellow suits and wearing safety tethers to connect them to the shore were armed with chainsaws and other equipment as they ventured onto the ice to try to help the animals.

Grant said one horse had already died of injuries and two more died from exhaustion, but seven made it to safety.

Grant said he spoke with a veterinarian who told him the seven survivors are doing well.

“It was pretty overwhelming having that sheer number of horses in need,” Grant said Monday. “Bystanders were pretty excited, but the crews were able to get control of the situation and develop a plan.”