A Seward woman died Tuesday morning after falling through the ice on a pond in back of her home while trying to save her dog.
Authorities said Evelyn Bush, 71, died shortly after 10am at Cobleskill Regional Hospital.
Emergency personnel who were at the scene of the accident said Mrs. Bush, and her husband, Larry Bush were on the ice and fell through.
The accident happened at the Bush home on Fromire Road.
Schoharie County Sheriff John Bates said dispatchers received a 911 call at 8:45am from a neighbor on Hill Road who heard someone yelling for help on the Bush property.
Another neighbor responded to the scene, grabbing an electrical cord used for exterior Christmas lights and crawled out on the ice, throwing it to Mr. Bush, who was unable to hold onto the cord, State Police said.
Troopers George Sommers and Kris Kinnear responded to the residence and with the neighbor's help, formed a human chain, pulling Mrs. Bush first, and then her husband, from the pond.
Mr. Bush was taken to Bassett Hospital in Cooperstown by the Cobleskill Rescue Squad and treated and released.
Rural Metro Ambulance transported Mrs. Bush to Cobleskill Regional Hospital, where she was pronounced dead.
There will be a visitation for Mrs. Bush from 4-8pm Monday, December 28, at the Robert Guffin Funeral Home, 108 Chapel Street, Cobleskill.
There will be no formal service and burial will be at the convenience of the family.