The former brickyad this morning, where a fisherman had fallen through the ice yesterday. (Photo by Jim Johnson-Corwin)
The winter's unusually warm weather and weak ice conditions almost led to disaster yesterday at the former brickyard off Root and Summit Lock Road. (Photo by Jim Johnson-Corwin)
Tragedy
averted
By CARL E. HARTDEGEN
Staff Writer
WESTFIELD – A tragedy was averted yesterday afternoon, thanks to the diligent actions of a passing Good Samaritan, when an ice fisherman fell though the ice at the former brickyard near the intersection of Root and Summit Lock roads.
A caller to the 911 emergency line reported to city police at 2:21 p.m. that a fisherman was in the frigid water at the brickyard and both firefighters and police were dispatched to assist him.
Deputy Fire Chief Andrew Hart reports that a 76 year-old man was found up to his armpits in the water with his arms on the ice.
Hart said that he did not know if the man was standing in the water, which is usually relatively shallow in the area, but said “There was no way he was going to get out without assistance,” he said.
Hart said that the caller, who asked to remain anonymous, told him that he had seen the man preparing to fish on the pond as he passed by and had stopped to warn him that the ice was not safe before he continued to his nearby workplace.
There, Hart said, the Samaritan’s concern that the fisherman might not have followed his advice prompted him to return to check on the man.
The Samaritan found the man in the water and called for help.
Hart said that the rescuer “did the right thing by not going out where he would have gone in” and become a victim himself.
Hart said that the responding firefighters used a rescue sled and had the victim out of the water within four minutes of their arrival.
Hart stressed that no ice in the area is currently safe for recreational pursuits.
He lauded the anonymous Good Samaritan saying “Without him the outcome could have been different.”
Carl E. Hartdegen can be reached at [email protected]
