January 9, 2021 – Hartford, WI – Charles Gardner, the gentleman rescued from the frozen waters of Pike Lake on December 30, 2020 reached out to the Hartford Fire and Rescue Department to say “thank you” for saving his life.
Gardner had been out on the lake roughly 100 yards from shore wearing snowshoes when the ice gave way. He had been in the water up to 35 minutes attempting to call for help when a couple walking the trails in the State Park heard his pleas.
“I just could not hang on any longer and I thought to myself I have lived a good life and this is it,” Gardner said. “I was about to let go when I heard those sirens coming. I guess that just motivated me to hang on a little longer. I remember your guys yelling instructions to me but I knew I would not last much longer.”
Gardner was removed from the ice and taken to the Hartford Hospital heli-pad prior to being airlifted to Froedtert Hospital – Milwaukee.
Gardner reported in his call he is out of the hospital and on the road to recovery.