TL/DR –
A man and his dog were rescued after falling through the ice on Lake Michigamme in Michigan. The 56-year-old man, Thad Cooper, was attempting to rescue his dog with a kayak when he also fell through the ice. Despite the successful rescue of both man and dog, two first responders were treated for hypothermia and one for a laceration sustained during the event.
Man and Dog Rescued from Icy Michigan Lake
In an hour-long rescue operation, a 56-year-old man and his dog were pulled from the freezing waters of Lake Michigamme, Marquette County, Michigan. Thad Cooper and his dog had broken through the ice while over 100 yards from the shore.
The Marquette County Sheriff’s Office reported receiving a distress call at 4:06 p.m. on Friday. Cooper had attempted to save his dog, who had fallen in, using a kayak but ended up in the icy water himself.
The rescue operation involved several agencies, including the Michigan State Police and the U.S. Coast Guard. Employing a flotation device, a member of the Marquette County Sheriff’s Office dive team successfully pulled Cooper to shore, with first responders then rescuing the dog.
The Sheriff’s office estimated that both Cooper and his dog had been in the icy water for about 85 minutes. Unfortunately, the rescue team also faced challenges with two of them being treated for hypothermia, and another receiving treatment for a laceration after falling through the ice.
Cooper, his dog, and affected first responders received medical treatment at a hospital in Ishpeming. The Sheriff’s office issued a warning about the dangers of venturing onto ice at this time of year, emphasizing that it is unsafe.
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