Pewaukee Lake rescue; man dead, UTV fell through ice
Pewaukee Lake rescue, man dead
The Waukesha County Sheriff's Department said a man died after he fell through the ice on Pewaukee Lake on Saturday afternoon, Jan. 25.
PEWAUKEE, Wis. - The Waukesha County Sheriff's Department said a man died after he fell through the ice on Pewaukee Lake on Saturday afternoon, Jan. 25.
Pewaukee Lake
What they're saying:
According to Lake Country Fire & Rescue, crews were called to the lake just after 3 p.m. for reports that a UTV operator had gone through the ice. Bystanders tried to rescue the person but lost sight of them.
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The Western Lakes Fire District dive team was called in, as was specialty equipment from the Pewaukee Fire Department. Both the man and the UTV were no longer visible by the time first responders got to the lake, within minutes of when they were dispatched.
"We saw a whole bunch of ambulances coming this way, and they had fire engines as well," witness Eric Schoessow said. "Brought the hoverboat with a trailer, went across the lake, then they came back with someone, and we just heard someone went in."
Rescue effort on Pewaukee Lake
Two surface swimmers looked for the man, but could not find him or the UTV due to the depth of the water. Rescue divers and scuba equipment went in around 3:45 p.m. and located the man shortly thereafter. He was in the water for roughly 40 minutes.
The man was removed from the water, and first responders began CPR. He was then taken to a hospital where life-saving attempts continued.
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The sheriff's department identified the person as a 61-year-old man and said he was pronounced dead at the hospital.
"I just think you have to be safe," Schoessow said. "I mean, this ice – you just never know what's going to happen."
Rescue effort on Pewaukee Lake
No ice is safe ice
Big picture view:
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources reminds the public that no ice is safe ice. The DNR does not monitor ice conditions, but they are monitored locally. Local fishing clubs, outfitters and bait shops are the best sources for local, current ice conditions.
READ MORE: Ice safety tips from the Wisconsin DNR
The DNR said some smaller lakes can have aerators that are run throughout the winter either covering a large area towards the center of the lake or may have smaller aerators placed by private property landowners adjacent to their shore and/or piers.
Equally as important, the DNR said, is to stay alert for pressure ridges or ice heaves. These can be dangerous due to thin ice and open water and often are created, move or grow with changes in temperatures and high winds.
Big Muskego Lake rescue
What they're saying:
The Tess Corners Fire Department said it rescued one person who fell through ice on Big Muskego Lake on Saturday. It happened around 6:15 p.m.
Muskego police said the person fell into open water a few hundred yards from shore. It was shallow enough that the person stood there until they were rescued. The person is in "good condition" and "doing fine," police said.
Big Muskego Lake is roughly 17 miles southeast of Pewaukee Lake in Waukesha County.
The Source: Information in this report is from Lake Country Fire & Rescue, Waukesha County Sheriff's Department, Tess Corners Fire Department, Muskego Police Department and Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.