At a quarry near me a local guy went through the ice on his 4 wheeler yesterday and unfortunately he never came up. Many of his close friends watched it happen but he was too far out for them to help. I had the pleasure of meeting him a few times and he seemed like a good kid. Really is a shame, he was only 25 yrs old. They called the search off again today due to the weather and dangerous conditions on the ice. Always remember that even though it looks thick enough, it can still have thin spots. http://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/ATV-Rider-Under-Ice-243254311.html
4 went through the ice after dark last winter. A couple of them not found until ice out. Know the mother of one of them. Was all she had.
Very sad… as the years have gone by, I've developed a real good and solid plan when it comes to going on ice… I don't. Last time I went on ice was the last time. Had the Suzuki, with tracks on, cruising along when I broke down thru to slush. Had the machine in 4 wd and the throttle clamped to the handlebar… engine screaming, water flying… even with all that noise, I could hear my heart pounding like canon shots! Had enough fun on ice for one lifetime…
Thanks Smokin… this was a first (and last) for me, I had just bought the Suzuki … when it first dropped down through the snowpack it was like 12"-18" deep slush. Clean out your shorts deep. I had water pooling 5-10' all around the machine and had no way of knowing whether there was enough supporting ice under me, and no reason to think so. The machine was pretty amazing as all 4 tracks were really screaming… I went along for about 25' and was able to get one side up on an old snow sled track that was hard snow. The machine leaped up and on the snow and I bee lined back the way I'd come, sweat pouring off me like I was bulling wood in 100 degree summer heat. Later that day, I happened to meet another guy in a side by side ATV with tracks, who had come through that same area and had the same experience. Don't think he was heading back that way either.
Please also be careful with your pets on the ice, especially on the edges of winter when things might not be as solid. Valentines day two years ago I took the hounds for a hike and almost lost Oliver. It was all my fault, I wasn't paying attention, thinking about other things. Just as I looked at the ice and thought "I better make sure the dogs don't go out on the ice" I heard him crash through. He was about 75 yards off shore, and broke a pretty big hole trying to get out. After a few minutes it was clear he was not going to be able to pull himself out, and there was no way I could reach him. I was frantic and sure I was going to watch my dog die. I don't carry a cell phone, but for some reason that day I decided to grab an old tracphone that my wife had kept to give to the kids occasionally when needed. I called my wife at work and she called the police. Police, fire and park rangers started to show up about 20 minutes later. Oliver altered between swimming and clinging to the edge of the ice. A couple of fire dept women got dressed in survival suits and tied off to ropes and ventured out onto the ice. The ice broke underneath them about 15 yards out and their progress toward Oliver slowed as they struggled in the water. By this time there must have been 30 people on the shore all calling at the dog, the ladies were still in the water making little progress. I was losing hope, Oliver had gone under several times by then, he had been in the water for at least 45 minutes. He went under again and everyone got quiet, then he came back up, in the quiet I screamed at him and he somehow latched onto the ice and dragged himself out scratching and clawing at the ice. He stood up on the ice and started walking around near the hole, I was sure he was going to fall back in, I think he was frightened by the ladies in the survival suits yelling for him. Another moment of quiet and he heard me again and started going toward the ladies on the ice. They grabbed him and were pulled ashore. They passed him to me, he was completely still, no shivering a bad sign. We made it to a waiting fire truck about 150 yards down the trail wrapped him in blankets with the heat on. A few minutes later he began convulsive shivering and his eyes were rolling back in his head. I called the vet, they said bring him immediately, they would get some IV fluid warmed. They got me back to my car and I got him to the vet, he recovered rapidly on the way to the vet, by the time we got there 20 minutes later you would not have known there was a problem. Here are some pictures the police chief took. It made the front page of the local paper. Kind of funny, the picture they published was of Oliver walking around on the ice with the ladies in the survival suits still in the water, it looked like he was rescuing them. Just after he dragged himself out of the water, you can see how big of a hole he made trying to get out. His rescuers, these ladies were fearless
DG, Being in the fire service for 35 years, and an animal lover for more than that, this story warms my heart. I can't even imagine this situation if it were my beloved Oggie or Buddy. I am so glad it turned out good for you. God bless the first responders. Most of us see animals on the same level as humans.
Thanks for posting your story and photos. Every dog owner on here prolly noticing how blurry their screens are getting… Dogs rule…
YES! True heros, and like many small town departments...staffed by your friends and neighbors who VOLUNTEER to help you in life threatening situations.
That is a sad and tragic story. I have the day off and was going to go ice fishing but my friend was unable to go. I believe in the buddy system when out on the ice, so I did not go. I carry a throwable flotation device and have 30 feet of rope, on the ice sled just in case. The cell phone is in a ziploc bag in the bib pocket of my snow pants up near my chest just in case. Being a scout at one time always makes me think of these things. Be prepared. It has to be the most helpless feeling unable to get out of a hole like that. Panic and confusion must take over quickly. I also like those flotation suspenders that have the CO2 cartridge and pull cord that inflate quickly. That was a good ending to your story Dave. I'm glad everyone involved was safe.
We had a kid near us go in this year on a quad, my aunt works for the family. Him and a buddy went riding on the lake at night. They came up on a spring and didnt see the open water. First kid went in with his quad and the second jumped off before his quad went in. He never saw his friend though and had called 911 and the friends mom and told her he thought her son was dead. Somehow the kid that went in swam up to the opening and saw lights from a lake house. He swam across the opening fully clothed and crawled onto the ice. Then ran barefoot up to the houses, first three houses were empty and finally the 4th house someone answered the door but the lady was hesitant to let him in. He told her to call 911 and they confirmed that there was fire and police headed that way with divers to look for him. She then let him in and gave him a change of clothes. Its amazing that he was able to survive the cold water, and make it up to the houses. I believe he had an angel watching over his shoulder that night.
