Lisa Dugen with Minnesota’s Department of Natural Resources shows how to stay safe when venturing out on frozen lakes and ponds across the Upper Midwest.
HOWELL, Mich. – The man who was pulled from Lake Chemung in Howell by the U.S. Coast Guard and rescue workers in Livingston County has passed away.
Emergency responders rushed to Lake Chemung near Howell around 2:30 Wednesday afternoon after someone went through the ice.
Video from SkyFOX shows multiple rescue workers in bright yellow gear crawling along the ice to get to the victim. They’re also pulling a small boat to move the person as well.
The U.S. Coast Guard was called to assist with the rescue and a helicopter arrived around 3:40, and a rescue worker was lowered to the ice to help.
Ice rescue from Lake Chemung near Howell, Michigan on Wednesday.
(FOX 2)
Just as the coast guard arrived on the scene, the victim was in the process of being pulled out of the frigid water. The coast guard worker rushed to get the person strapped into a lift system. At 3:55 p.m., the victim was airlifted into the Coast Guard helicopter.
As the helicopter took off, a large amount of rescue workers seen on the banks of Lake Chemung.
The coast guard helicopter landed nearby before the victim was taken to an ambulance for hospitalization.
The Brighton fire chief said the man was on a hang glider when he crashed onto the lake. Rescue crews had to bear-crawl on the breaking ice roughly 300 yards to get to where the man was and were ultimately assisted by the Coast Guard to pull the man from the water.
THIN ICE: LAKES BEAR IMPACTS FROM WARM WINTER
Shortly after setting down and getting the victim to an ambulance, the Livingston County rescue workers were stuck on the ice – unable to get their skiff to go through the water.
The Coast Guard helicopter returned to help rescue them as well.
A total of eight firefighters are being treated for cold exposure but are expected to be okay.
Ice is melting throughout the area as temperatures in the past week have been close to 60 degrees.
If ice is below 4″ in depth it is advised you stay off.
(National Weather Service / FOX Weather)