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N.D. (The Edgeley Mail) – Winter fun in North Dakota often means ice fishing. At Flood Lake and Diamond Lake, near Kulm, there is a virtual town of fish houses that dot the lake.
Out on thin ice took new meaning for three Edgeley youth Sunday, Jan. 29. Lucas Madcke along with his younger brother Mason and their friend Jamie Jangula were fishing. About 7:30 p.m. they decided to leave the lake. Lucas was driving their two-door extended cab pickup when he thinks they hit a pressure ridge and the ice gave way.
Mason hollered at them “Get the door open.” One account of the events say there was too much pressure on the door and Lucas was unable to get his door open. The power windows worked and he was able to lower the window and escape onto the ice. Lucas stayed dry. Meanwhile Jamie Jangula who was riding in the front seat pushed his door open. Mason squeezed past and was able to get to the ice. Only his lower body was wet.
In the scramble and panic of the situation, Jamie’s foot became caught in the door. He went down with the pickup. Jamie thrashed about in the cold, dark water trying to free his foot. He finally broke free and surfaced. Tammy Jangula shared Jamie thinks it was divine intervention which saved him. Mason was standing nearby when Jamie surfaced and helped pull him onto the ice.
Jamie saw lights in a nearby fish house and took off running. Fortunately it was Wade Zahn who was still on the ice, about 300 yards away. Fortunately everyone knew the key was to get Jamie warmed up. They helped strip him of his clothes and stood him next to the heater.
Wade called Kent and Sherri to let them know what had happened. Once Jamie was warmed, he took Jamie to his fish house where he had extra clothes. Then Wade started toward Edgeley to bring the Madcke brothers home.
When Jamie got home, Tammy, his mother, noticed he was wearing a different sweatshirt and was bleeding. He told her Lucas lost his pickup. Eventually the story unfolded with words from Jamie and numerous calls from Madckes, Wade and others.
Fortunately the only thing lost in this accident was a pickup. But the lessons learned are many.
Quick thinking can save someone who has gone through the ice. Be prepared. Brace yourself; hold your breath. Stay calm. Find the hole. Position yourself to find the strongest part of the ice. Kick your feet and pull yourself up at the same time. Roll away from the hole. Retrace your steps to shore. Warm up.
A rescue rope is a great aid. If none is available, what else can be used from the surroundings to allow the rescuer to stay a safe distance from the hole? If you venture out on the ice, know the conditions of where you are. Let someone else know where you are and when you expect to return.
Once someone has been recovered from the icy waters, it is time to warm them up. Remove wet clothes and wrap them in a blanket or dry jacket. Know the symptoms of hypothermia.
This story was originally printed in the Feb. 1 edition of The Edgeley Mail. It has been reprinted with their permission. Follow The Edgeley Mail on Facebook.