FRUITPORT, Mich. — The Allegan County Sheriff's Department and Fire Department, with the assistance of the Lee Township Fire Department, responded on Sunday afternoon to 2 fishermen who had fallen through the ice on Lower Scott Lake in Lee Township.
The second male had gone to the aid of the initial victim, when he also became trapped in the ice. Rescuers arrived on scene to find two men in the ice and a third man in a small boat trying to save them. With the help of a Michigan State Police Trooper, the rescuers got one man to shore who got on top of the ice.
They were then able to throw a rescue line to the second male, who was instructed to roll onto towards the shore until the rescuers were able to pull him to safety. The men were estimated to be in the water for a half hour or less.
The victims were 60 and 62-year-old brothers, who are longtime residents of Lower Scott Lake and have nearly 30 years of ice fishing experience, but did not have any safety gear with them. They were checked by AMR ambulance, showed signs of hypothermia and small cuts from the ice, both refused transport to the hospital.
Allegan County Sheriff's Department would like to remind everyone that no ice is safe ice. If you are going to venture out on a frozen lake or pond, they ask you to take reasonable safety precautions and tell someone where you are going and when you should return
