PEWAUKEE, Wis. — A 61-year-old man died Saturday after he fell through the ice on a UTV on Pewaukee Lake near Lakeside Road, according to the Waukesha County Sheriff's Department.
Lake Country Fire and Rescue (LCFR) said they were dispatched to the lake shortly after 3 p.m., according to a press release. Bystanders had called emergency services, stating they could no longer see the man or the UTV beneath the water.
First responders arrived at the scene around 3:15 p.m. and entered the water equipped with ice rescue suits. However, due to the depth of the water, surface swimmers were unable to locate the victim.
At approximately 3:45 p.m., scuba divers began their search. They located the man and brought him to the surface shortly thereafter. LCFR confirmed the victim had been submerged under the ice for about 37 minutes.
"We watched them pull one body out, and after that, we were like, we are going to walk away," said Jacob Miller, who was fishing a few hundred yards from the rescue operation.
Paramedics immediately performed CPR, and the man was transported to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Check out: 61-year-old man dies after falling through ice on Pewaukee Lake
At the time of the incident, dozens of people were ice fishing on the lake. Some were there for a fundraiser, while others said they go every weekend.
“We were in our shanty, and we actually first heard the sirens,” said Cindy Holzem, a resident.
“This community is so great. Anybody would help anybody. It has to be a terrible accident because I don’t think anyone challenges the ice if you’re an ice fisher.”
LCFR emphasized the dangers of unstable ice, even during extreme cold temperatures. “Anyone venturing out should proceed with caution,” they warned.
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources also reminded the public that "no ice is safe ice."
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