Ice fisherman pulls fishing partner out of icy Utah reservoir after thin ice gives way
A pair of ice fishermen rode snowmobiles over a partially frozen Utah reservoir — and ended up falling through thin ice, rescuers say.
They were riding south over the Strawberry Reservoir when the ice gave way under the weight of the snowmobiles, Wasatch County Search & Rescue said in a Jan. 16 post on Facebook. Strawberry Reservoir is the state’s most popular fishery, located about 55 miles southeast of Salt Lake City.
The second person pulled their fishing partner out of the icy reservoir and set up a fishing tent with heaters while they waited for help, rescuers said.
Both snowmobiles were stuck in the thin ice with open water only yards away, photos show. Rescuers got the fishermen off the ice and took them to an ambulance waiting in the parking lot.
Rescuers warned others to be careful on the ice because of the open water still at the reservoir.
What to do if you fall through ice
It’s never a guarantee that ice is safe to walk on.
You can’t judge the strength of ice by its appearance. Its strength also has to do with the water under the ice and the distribution of the load on the ice, according to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.
Even if every safety precaution is followed, sometimes the ice can begin to shatter. Here’s what to do if you find yourself plunging through ice:
Don’t take off your winter clothing. They’ll keep you warm and provide flotation.
Turn toward the direction you came.
Put your hands and arms on unbroken ice, and use available tools to try to pull yourself up.
Kick your feet and dig in.
Lie flat on the ice to keep your weight spread out. This will help prevent you from falling in again.
Get to a warm and dry place immediately.
This story was originally published January 18, 2024 at 3:19 PM with the headline "Ice fisherman pulls fishing partner out of icy Utah reservoir after thin ice gives way."
