A 51-year-old father died Friday while trying to save his son after they both fell through the ice of a frozen pond in Maine, authorities said in a press release.
of Penobscot County Sheriff's Office Kevin Howell was walking across a portion of Etna Pond in Carmel, Maine, with his 4-year-old son early Friday morning when they both fell through cracked ice, PCSO said. Howell was the mayor of Carmel. according to City of Carmel website.
After Howell was able to pull her son out of the water and back onto solid ice, she told him to run and get his mother, according to a press release. (Related: Body camera footage shows dog rescuing owner stranded on frozen lake)
The mother called 911, grabbed an anchor and rope and ran down to the pond to rescue her husband, PCSO said.
When she arrived at the pond, she tied a rope to the shore and walked across the ice to try to save her husband, but she fell and was unable to get out, according to a press release.
PCSO said a local sheriff's detective heard the 911 call, arrived at the pond in time and performed a daring rescue by crawling onto the ice and using a rope to bring the wife to shore.
The son and mother were rescued, but the father drowned and was found several hours later by two Maine Lifeguard Service divers, according to a press release.
Following the tragedy, Maine officials warned residents to make sure they have the proper tools needed to get out of the water if they fall through the ice, the report said. WGME13.
“All of us lifeguards, we carry these in our pockets. These are the items we carry with us if we fall into the ice. They will help us escape easily and efficiently.” Maine Hunting Supervisor Emerson Duplicy-Seal said, WGME 13 reports. “Even if you have an ice chisel like this, all you have to do is check the depth of the ice and the thickness of the ice as you go out. Continuously check every few feet because the position of the ice in one spot can change dramatically. I am.”
Another near-tragedy was averted after five people, including three children, fell through the ice at another Maine pond on Saturday, WGME 13 reported. Officials said their car broke through the ice and others nearby heard their screams and were rescued.
