Man rescued after falling through ice on Pike Lake

December 30, 2020 – Hartford, WI – A 65-year-old man was rescued after falling through the ice on Pike Lake in Hartford on Wednesday afternoon, December 30.

According to Hartford Fire Chief Paul Stephans the call came in at 1 p.m. about a man through the ice about 400 yards from the beach area at the State Park. People hiking on the trail called 9-1-1 after hearing calls for help.

The Washington County Dive Team was activated along with Flight for Life via protoc0l.

“The man fell through the ice but he did not go below the surface so we were able to rescue him with our ice rescue suits and bring him ashore,” said Stephans.

Hartford Fire and Rescue transported the man to Advocate Aurora / Hartford Hospital.

“He was alert and conscious and suffering from hypothermia after being in the water for 40 minutes,” Stephans said.

One member of the Hartford Fire Department did suffer a shoulder injury and he is being treated at Advocate Aurora. There is no prognosis update on the firefighter.

“The ice is not safe yet,” said Stephans. “I know it is a great feeling for the ice fishermen to get out on the first ice but it is way, way too dangerous with the weather we’ve had through December and today was proof of the instability of the ice.”

Stephans said unfortunately a firefighter was injured after someone used poor judgement and ventured out onto the ice in the first place.

“That’s why we emphasize everytime this year for people to stay off the ice until it is safe,” he said. “People think it is just them and they can do what they want but they are putting the lives of the rescuers at risk and today was an example of one of our guys getting injured and that’s just a shame.”

The Washington County Sheriff also responded along with Slinger Fire Department and St. Lawrence.

UPDATE 𝙋𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙨 𝙍𝙚𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙨𝙚 from Hartford FD on December 30, 2020

The Hartford Fire and Rescue Department was dispatched to the east side of Pike Lake for a report of a person in the water yelling for help at 1:00PM today (December 30, 2020). Due to the credibility of the multiple 911 reports, the Washington County Dive Team was also activated. Rescue personnel were able to locate the victim clinging to ice about 400 yards from shore. Crews were sent onto the ice and into the frigid water to rescue the 65 year old male patient who had been in the water for approximately 40 minutes. The rescue was made by members of the Hartford Fire Department and the Washington County Dive Team. The Dive team consisted of the Washington County Sheriff’s Department, Slinger Fire Department, Richfield Volunteer Fire Company and the West Bend Fire Department.
The patient was transported to Advocate Aurora Medical Center-Washington County (AMC-WC) by Hartford EMS where Flight for Life helicopter had been requested to respond to assist. Flight for Life then transported the patient to Froedtert Hospital. A Hartford firefighter did suffer a significant shoulder injury during the rescue. The firefighter was transported to AMC-WC where he was treated and released for future follow-up.

Paul Stephans
Fire Chief