By Stephanie Brien
Journal Times | Posted: Monday, January 5, 2009 12:00 am
TOWN OF WATERFORD - Mike Massman said he was on the porch of his house Sunday afternoon when he heard screaming coming from Tichigan Lake.
Two men, ages 49 and 50, on an all-terrain vehicle fell through the ice, according to Racine Sheriff's Department Lt. Brian Londre.
The accident was reported at 2:34 p.m., according to Londre, and Massman, 46, said he was the first on the scene.
He was outside his house at 28906 Beach Drive when he heard the screaming, he said. He yelled for his wife to call 911 and then raced to try to help.
He was prepared. He had an ice sled for ice fishing, filled with a life preserver and rope.
It had occurred to him in the past that the equipment could be used for lifesaving, but he never imagined using it that day, he said.
He scooted himself out on the sled, he said. He tried to pull one of the men out, but that didn't work, he said. Then he came across an ice fishing hole, wedged his feet on the inside edge and threw a rope with a life preserver attached, he said. He lay on his back and pulled, he said.
According to Londre, the first man was out of the water within a minute or two of the 911 call. But Masssman said "it felt like forever."
He said it took about six or seven tries for him to finally pull the first man out.
The man kept saying "I'm sorry," Massman said, and he was worried that he was giving up.
The second man was harder to get out of the water, Massman said. By that time, other neighbors had also arrived on the scene, as well as law enforcement.
"You see the look in the eyes and it's scary," Massman said.
That man didn't get out of the water until 2:45 p.m., according to Londre. He was not sure how long the men were in the water before emergency assistance was called.
Londre said that he did not believe that either of the men was seriously injured but that "the water was pretty cold." One of the men was sent to Memorial Hospital of Burlington, the other to Froedtert Hospital in Wauwatosa, Londre said.
Massman said you could call him a life-saver, but he was just glad he was there to help.
"You see something like that and you want to help," Massman said.