Cops warn of falling snow after Cambridge rescue

A close call outside of a Cambridge ice skating rink has raised concerns over the dangers of falling snow and icicles.

A 34-year-old Cambridge resident had to be rescued around 6 p.m. Wednesday after snow fell from the roof of the Simoni Memorial Rink, completely burying him and briefly trapping four others.

Police used snow shovels to remove the man, who was not identified. All five people suffered minor injuries and were treated at local area hospitals, according to Cambridge police spokesman Jeremy Warnick.

Before the incident, the man was walking on a path with his twin brother, another man and a woman. The other men were briefly buried up to their chests, but were able to free themselves.

The state Department of Conservation and Recreation owns the skating rink.

The incident is a stark reminder of the potentially fatal effects of snow lurking in the gutters and roofs above pedestrians’ heads.

“Our concern, not just commercial and residential buildings in Cambridge, but with all buildings across the region, is that something like this could happen again and the outcome could be much worse than what we saw [Wednesday],” Warnick said. “Ensuring that roofs are clear from heavy snow and dangerous icicles is incredibly important during these final weeks of winter.”