Firefighters were called to Onota Lake after the man fell through patchy ice about 100 yards from Burbank Park in Pittsfield on Tuesday morning, Jan. 21. He was able to pull himself out of the ice but fell through again as firefighters were en route, raising even more alarms.
Firefighters spotted him in the water when they arrived. Rescuers donned cold-water suits to navigate the unpredictable surface, but conditions quickly worsened. As they approached, a section of the ice shelf broke beneath them, sending firefighters into the cold lake.
Despite the hazardous conditions, firefighters secured the distressed fisherman to an ice sled and safely pulled him to shore. Paramedics took him to Berkshire Medical Center, where he was treated for hypothermia. Officials said he is expected to make a full recovery.
The rescue was a “manpower-intensive operation,” officials noted, requiring coordination across multiple agencies and specialized training to address the dangers of unstable ice.
One firefighter also sustained hypothermia after his cold-water suit failed during the rescue. He was treated at Berkshire Medical Center and is also expected to recover fully.
The incident highlights the perils of ice fishing in unpredictable winter conditions. Emergency responders emphasized the importance of staying off thin or untested ice, urging caution to avoid similar tragedies.
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