Close Call

[numbskull]

Maybe this belongs in the ice fishing forum, but those guys are probably careful already and this story is likely more useful to "go on a whim" ice fishermen like myself.

Sat I was driving past a local ice covered Cape pond when I saw an unattended white bucket and an un-deployed tip up out in the center, and 30 ft away a big wet spot. There was a car next to the pond, but no one out there. It bothered me enough to call the fire dept. They sent a guy out with a sled and dry suit. He found a large hole with a second bucket floating in it. They found a name/number from a distant town in the unattended bucket next to trap. No answer. They called in some divers (the pond is deep). While the divers were working the police located a relative of the name who lived nearby. They sent a car to the house and found the fisherman there. He had fallen through but gotten himself out and walked home (the car was not his).

The scary thing about this is that by all appearances the ice was safe. Near where he went through there where 5-6 holes by other fishermen who earlier had had no problem. Half-way out to the broken ice 1/2 dozen firemen and policemen stood in a group talking and the ice supported them fine.

I don't know the details of how he got himself out, possibly he had picks (but no fishing license according to the DNR officer), whatever, he is a lucky guy.

All's well that ends well. Still I thought the story might give pause to think for some of us who might talk ourselves into going out there without planning for the worst.