Photos by Beth Boardman
Several LaPorte City firefighters took advantage of the rotten ice off the shore of the Pine Lake Ski Beach on Wednesday, March 17, 2010, to do some rescue training.
As Captain Doug Major repeatedly immersed himself in the icy water a good distance offshore, other firefighters took turns going out to “rescue” him with the aid of a Rescue Alive sled. The sled is designed to slide across the surface of the ice, but also float if it breaks through. A firefighter can slide out to the person in the water, pull him or her onto the sled, then be pulled to shore by other firefighters manning ropes attached to the sled.
These photos show firefighter Russell Oak Jr. going out on the sled to “rescue” Capt. Major, then being pulled in by firefighters on shore. (Click on photos to enlarge)
