Ice Rescue/Big Green Lake

INFORMATION: 

On Friday, March 16, 2018, 3:03pm, the Green Lake County E911 Communications Center received several calls of an individual yelling for help. The individual was in water, having broken through the ice, on Beyers Cove. Beyers Cove is a backwater to Big Green Lake on the far northwest end, about 5 miles south of Princeton. 

With emergency rescue services dispatched, Deputy staff arrived at 3:11pm. At this time, a citizen and a Deputy assisted getting a male party back to shore via a canoe. Only one victim was confirmed to be involved in this rescue. 

The victim, a 79 year old male from Princeton, was ice fishing in Beyers Cove when he fell through bad ice. The victim was not injured and refused transport for medical attention. He is expected to survive. 

Sheriff Mark Podoll, who was at the scene of this incident commented, “While ice is never considered completely safe, this late in the year even foot travel upon our local ice should not be attempted”. Podoll continued, “This could have gone a tragic direction if it weren’t for the actions of another local citizen who acted quickly and made a big difference in this positive outcome.”

This incident was responded to by Green Lake County EMS and Paramedic Unit, Princeton Fire/Rescue, Green Lake County Water/Ice Rescue Team, and the Green Lake County Sheriff’s Office.