Have I Ruined My Fridge Beyond Repair?

[AndiFlatland]

I have had temporary use of a new fridge in the empty flat adjoining mine, during substantial bathroom and kitchen repairs, but the ice build-up had been very considerable. The other day, I tried to quickly clear the ice from it, by using a pointed knife and a hammer, as I urgently needed to remove food items which were heavily ice-bound, to put them into my own fridge. As I hit the end of the knife with the hammer, a crack suddenly opened up in the ice, and the point of the knife went straight through the raised channel under the ice box, which I assume carries the coolant (freeon?). This came spraying out for half a minute, and eventually the ice box stopped working. Over night, all the ice had vanished, and the fridge and its contents were at room temperature, with water everywhere.
What I need to know is: Is this an irrevocable piece of damage which has rendered the fridge useless, or can it be fixed? The hole made in the channel is about 3-4mm long, and I'm wondering if any kind of weld can be made to seal it, and then more refrigerant liquid pumped back in to the unit? Would it be worth the expense, or am I just going to have to admit my stupid error to the landlord, and cough up the cash for a new fridge? (Or maybe I should just say nothing, and let the next tenant complain that the fridge isn't working, and hope the finger of blame doesn't get pointed in my direction!)

[Old_Geezer]

Nothing much is beyond repair if willing to pay enough. It's just that dome situations become write-off situations where buying new is cheaper.

Well lesson re hammering fridges learn, my guess is a new one would prove the easier solution. But someone might know better. I'd certainly not bother trying to find someone capable of fixing the pipe and refilling the coolant.

[Georgiesmum]

Time to get a new one Im afraid.

[CrapAtCryptics]

Fridges are quite reasonably priced as long as you dont want a name brand- probably cheaper than getting someone in to fix it.

[rowanwitch]

AO lets go as they say in the ad, get some quotes and talk to the landlord.