First responders from Coast Guard Station Marquette, Mich., Marquette City Fire Department and Marquette County Sherriff's Office prepare to bring a fisherman safely back to shore after he fell through the ice about 300 yards off of Presque Isle Harbor, March 13, 2015. The man, who was in the icy waters for about 15 minutes, suffered from hypothermia and was transferred to EMS before being transported to a local hospital. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Chief Petty Officer Patrick Brown)
First responders from Coast Guard Station Marquette, Mich., Marquette City Fire Department and Marquette County Sherriff's Office bring a fisherman safely back to shore after the man fell through the ice about 300 yards off of Presque Isle Harbor, March 13, 2015. The man, who was in the icy waters for about 15 minutes, suffered from hypothermia and was transferred to EMS and then transported to a local hospital. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Chief Petty Officer Patrick Brown)First responders from Coast Guard Station Marquette, Mich., Marquette City Fire Department and Marquette County Sherriff's Office transfer a fisherman to awaiting EMS after bringing the man back to shore after he fell through the ice about 300 yards off of Presque Isle Harbor, March 13, 2015. The man, who was in the icy waters for about 15 minutes, suffered from hypothermia and was transported to a local hospital. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Chief Petty Officer Patrick Brown
MARQUETTE , Mich. – Coast Guard and Marquette County and City first responders teamed up to bring a man to safety after he fell through the ice approximately 300 yards off of Presque Isle Harbor in Marquette, Friday.
The name of the man is not being released by the Coast Guard.
Shortly after 3 p.m. local time, a watchstander at Coast Guard Station Marquette received a call from 911 dispatch about a person who had fallen through the ice while fishing in an open area near a power plant.
An Ice Rescue Team from Station Marquette was dispatched, transporting rescue gear and emergency equipment by trailer.
Once on scene, approximately 300 yards offshore, members of the Marquette Fire Department had already recovered the man who had been in the water about 15 minutes, strapped him to a MARSARS board and were in the process bringing him back to shore.
During the trip back to shore, the man, who was conscious and alert, began to show signs of severe hypothermia, so members of the Coast Guard wrapped him in a thermal capsule sleeping bag in order to begin the warming process.
Members of the Coast Guard, Marquette Fire Department and Marquette County Sherriff’s office transported the patient to shore and to awaiting EMS who then transported the man to Marquette General Hospital.
“The ice is getting weaker, thinner and more dangerous by the day,” said Coast Guard Petty Officer 2nd Class Gary Hegler. “ People, now more than ever, need to be cautious and aware of their surroundings and need to use extreme caution near ice.”