(Polk County) A nearby resident helped save a man who had fallen through the ice trying to rescue a dog at a Polk County Lake.
The Polk County Communication Center received a 911 call late Thursday afternoon regarding a dog that had fallen through the ice at Avon Lake, located in the 6700 block of SE 55th Ct. While deputies and Animal Control were en route, five minutes later, another 911 call reported that a man who had tried to rescue the dog had also fallen through the ice.
A nearby resident witnessed the incident, quickly retrieved a small boat from the shoreline, and carefully slid across the ice to reach the man in the water. Though they couldn’t get the man into the boat, he managed to cling to it while waiting for help. When Polk County deputies arrived, one deputy threw a rope bag to the man, and with the assistance of local citizens and a Carlisle Police Officer, they successfully pulled him to shore. Once on land, the man was able to walk up the embankment unaided. Precautionarily, he was transported to a local hospital by medics, while the individual in the boat was also helped back to shore. Thankfully, the dog was later found safe.
Given the recent warmer temperatures, the Polk County Sheriff’s Office advises caution when walking on ice in ponds and lakes and urges residents near open water to take precautions with their pets.
