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OSHKOSH FIRE DEPT

Date: March 2003
Rescued: Man and two sons
Pilots & Rescue Team: Oshkosh Fire Dept Crew

Oshkosh Northwester, Saturday, March 8, 2003

Back in service for just a few days, the Winnebago County Sheriff Department's Hovercraft was put to the test Friday night.

Members of the Oshkosh Fire Department used it to rescue a man and his two sons when they fell through the ice on Lake Winnebago near the mouth of the Fox River.

The trio was rescued about three-quarters of a mile south of Lake Street and Bay Shore Drive, Said Battalion Chief Jeff Johnson of the Oshkosh Fire Department.

Rescue personnel at the scene did not know precisely how the mishap occurred or the type of vehicle the man was driving when it went through the ice.

"He was driving around just showing the kids the ice is what he said," said Deputy Darren Putzer.

The boys were estimated at around 8 and 10 years of age. The names of those rescued were not released. No one was seriously injured, Putzer said.

They were very wet and shivering, but they seemed well," Putzer said.

All three were taken to Mercy Medical Center for treatment.

Cynthis Wood and Matt Galica, both of Oshkosh, were driving past the Pioneer Inn and Marina on their way home from Wendt's on the Lake with another couple when Wood saw what appeared to [be] the vehicle lights "totally tilted to the right" out on the ice, Wood said.

"We saw these blinking hazard lights and didn't know if it was a car or not," Wood said.

"We decided it was better to be safe than sorry, so I dialed 911," Wood said.

Wood and Galica pulled into the marina parking lot, called the other couple traveling in another car, and then called police. The two men ran out on one of the docks to see if they could help while Wood called the police.

In addition to Wood's call, police received calls from people who reported hearing a man calling for help from the ice.

The Hovercraft was called out at 9:01 p.m.

"Those people were lucky," Wood said. "If we had left Wendts 10 minutes later, or if I'd looked the other way when we drove past, we wouldn't have seen them."

The Hovercraft, which was damaged in December, was sent to Michigan for repairs. It was put back into service earlier this week, Johnson said.