Anoka County (Minnesota) Sheriff's Deputy Chris Fjeld crawled out onto a frozen lake Dec. 3 to rescue fishermen who had fallen through the ice.Anoka County SO
An Anoka County, Minnesota, Sheriff’ deputy crawled out onto a frozen lake Dec. 3 to rescue two fishermen and a dog believed to be suffering from hypothermia after falling through ice, rather than waiting for additional resources to arrive.
Deputy Chris Fjeld decided to start the rescue operation, despite apprehension from fellow Deputy Curt Grabmeier, before the sheriff's office marine unit arrived
"Chris, where you going? Chris, I don't like it," Grabmeier, the deputy whose body camera is recording, could be heard saying. His opinion was shared by a St. Francis police officer also working at the scene.
"These guys are hypothermia," Fjeld was heard saying, after agreeing that he didn’t like it either and climbing out onto the ice.
Fjeld was told to wait while his colleague made sure both ends of the tethered rope were tied, prior to him getting on the frozen lake on his belly, and pushing himself out toward the stuck fishermen, Fox News reports.
Both fishermen and the dog were successfully rescued from the lake.
"We are thankful all involved are OK and are proud of Deputy Fjeld’s selfless actions to help others in need," Anoka County Sheriff’s Office said on Facebook.
The department used the incident as an opportunity to remind the community that ice on some Minnesota lakes and ponds is not thick enough to walk on, and doing so puts people at "significant risk of falling through and experiencing hypothermia or death."
