TOWN OF FOND DU LAC, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — A man died after the UTV he was riding in fell through the ice on Lake Winnebago.
Just before 12:30 p.m. Saturday, Fond du Lac County dispatch received a call from someone who said they helped pull two people out of the water on Lake Winnebago, about a quarter mile north of Lakeside Park, and onto the ice but one of the individuals was not breathing.
First responders learned a UTV, driven by a 56-year-old Fond du Lac man, was driving out on the ice with a passenger, a 67-year-old Taycheedah man. The UTV was going south on the ice when it entered open water. Both men were able to get out of the UTV but were in the water for about 20 minutes before bystanders noticed them and helped them out of the water.
A deputy and a Fond du Lac police officer were given a ride by a bystander in a UTV to the scene but were unable to reach the individuals due to an active crack in the ice and 15-20 feet of open water. They provided guidance and an AED to the good Samaritans that were still helping the driver and passenger of the UTV.
Eventually, the Fond du Lac County SARC with Fond du Lac Fire personnel arrived on scene and took both the driver and passenger to shore.
Both the driver and passenger were taken to the hospital and life-saving measures were performed on the 67-year-old man but he was later pronounced deceased at the hospital.
The 56-year-old driver was treated for hypothermic related symptoms. Both the driver and the passenger were wearing their seatbelts but did not have helmets or flotation devices.
Unfamiliarity with where the active crack was, which was marked with downed Christmas trees, appears to be a factor in the crash.
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