Firefighters recount tale of ice rescue

FOND DU LAC - There have been a number of ice rescues in recent weeks. That includes Friday night, when a snowmobile broke through the ice.

"I knew the water was here but I thought I was far enough away from it," said Kelly Milam of Fond du Lac.  

It turns out late Friday night, Kelly Milam was headed right for trouble.

"As I was going around the corner, the ice started getting thinner and thinner as I was going."

Milam says he had never been snowmobiling on Lake Winnebago before.

• Photos: Ice rescue demonstration

"What made you think it was a good idea to be out there when you didn't know what the lake was like?" asked FOX 11's Chad Doran.

"Um, haven't thought about that to be honest with you," Milam replied.

As Milam clung to the edge of the ice, Fond du Lac firefighters raced to the scene.

Jake Vogds and Lt. Rick Gerritson immediately hit the water and within a matter of minutes had Milam safely on shore.

"We went, I'm calling it about 100 feet on good safe ice and then about another 50 feet over open water and then from that point to him we had to break ice to get there," said Vogds.

"All we know is that when someone is in the water, time is not on their side, so every ounce of energy is used to get there as efficiently as we can," said Gerritson.

The rescuers say training paid off.

"You just trust the training that you have and the equipment that you have. A lot of it was instinct in just knowing that there was another human being out there that we needed to get out," said Gerritson.

Milam says he was riding alone, something he admits was not a good idea. He also says the experience will change his thinking about trying his luck on the lake again.

"I'll never be on this lake again. I thought I would be fine, but I didn't realize the ice can break as easy as it did."

"If you're unfamiliar with the area, especially it's an increased danger at night and ultimately the message is the ice is never 100 percent safe," said Vogds.

A message that can't be stressed enough.