An elderly man was rushed to the hospital in critical condition after being found unresponsive in a pond behind his Colleyville home Sunday morning, as freezing temperatures gripped North Texas during a historic winter storm.
First responders made the grim discovery around 10:30 a.m. while responding to a call about the man’s wife, who had fallen in a back pasture on their property in the 5000 block of Fry Lane and couldn’t get up, according to authorities who confirmed details of the incident.
The emergency unfolded as the region battled brutal winter conditions, with temperatures hovering around 15°F and a feels-like temperature of just 3°F. Heavy sleet and ice had created treacherous conditions throughout the area as part of what meteorologists are calling a historic 2026 winter storm that has paralyzed much of North Texas.
Few Details Released
Colleyville police have been tight-lipped about the circumstances surrounding the incident. “No further details will be released at this time,” said Mark Cantrell, a department representative, in a statement obtained by multiple news outlets.
What exactly led the elderly man to end up in the pond remains unclear. The frigid temperatures raise troubling questions about how long he might have been exposed to the elements before being discovered by emergency personnel who initially arrived to help his wife.
The man was immediately transported to a local hospital where he remains in critical condition, reports indicate. Authorities haven’t released the identities of either the man or his wife, nor have they provided an update on the woman’s condition following her fall.
Winter storms of this magnitude often lead to an uptick in emergency calls across affected regions, stretching first responder resources thin. The combination of ice, freezing temperatures, and limited mobility can prove especially dangerous for elderly residents.
This incident comes as the National Weather Service maintains a Winter Storm Warning for the region, advising residents to avoid unnecessary travel and take precautions against the extreme cold.
Neighbors in the typically quiet Colleyville community, located between Dallas and Fort Worth, have been left shaken by the news. The area, known for its spacious properties and rural character, features many homes with ponds and pastureland similar to where this emergency unfolded.
Local officials continue to monitor the situation as the winter storm persists, with emergency services on high alert for similar incidents throughout Tarrant County and surrounding areas.
