OSHKOSH, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – A weekend incident is prompting safety reminders from a local company that helps recover vehicles that fall through the ice on frozen bodies of water.
Even though Lake Winnebago’s ice is expected to reach the recommended 12 inch thickness for vehicles this weekend, Sunk Dive and Ice’s Don Herman suggests avoiding local waters altogether this time of year.
“You’ve got the current in the river. It never freezes, it’s just like a stream. Eventually it freezes, but the river is always unsafe. There is never a good place to go in the wintertime.”
If you do head out on the frozen waters, Herman has some advice.
“I tell everybody ‘carry a whistle around your neck,’ because if you put a whistle around your neck, go into the cold water, and lose your breath, you can still blow a whistle.”
He also suggests carrying an ice picker.
Green Bay Police Lieutenant Steve Mahoney says a man fell through the ice near Quincy Street on Green Bay’s East River late Friday night.
“The witnesses said they saw the guy in a hole in the ice, screaming for help. They weren’t able to get to him. They saw the guy go down and not resurface.”
The rescue efforts were called off after 40 minutes.
“Consulting with the fire personnel, I believe they said they don’t know of anyone that’s lasted longer than 40 minutes in cold water. We do believe that the party passed away.”
Mahoney says they don’t know the victim’s identity, with it possibly being a homeless person.
Recovery efforts were suspended Saturday.
