'Selfless' Minnesota deputy crawls across thin ice to rescue fishermen and dog
Minnesota's Anoka County Sheriff’s Office responded to a report that multiple individuals had fallen through the ice and were unable to get to shore, Dec. 3, 2023. (Anoka County Sheriff's Office)
A Minnesota deputy took it upon himself 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.
The incident was caught on body camera just after 3:30 p.m. Dec. 3 in the city of Nowthen. When deputies arrived following a call for help, they learned two men and a dog had fallen through the ice while ice fishing, the Anoka County Sheriff's Office said in a release.
A passerby was reportedly able to get a canoe out to them to get into while waiting for emergency responders to arrive.
Deputy Chris Fjeld decided to start the rescue operation, despite apprehensions from fellow Deputy Curt Grabmeier, before the sheriff's office marine unit arrived.
Minnesota's Anoka County Sheriff's Deputy Chris Fjeld, who went onto ice to rescue two fishermen and a dog, is seen in an inset photo. (Anoka County Sheriff's Office)
"Chris, where you going? Chris, I don't like it," Grabmeier, the deputy whose body camera is recording, could be heard saying.
"These guys are hypothermia," Fjeld was heard saying.
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.
A female officer from St. Francis Police Department working with the deputies then shouted at Fjeld, telling him that firefighters were on their way with a "gumby suit." But when Fjeld ran out of rope while in the middle of the frozen lake, two others tied additional rope so he could continue.
Fjeld was later pulled toward the shore with one of the fisherman, who then crawled to shore as Fjeld returned to the remaining fisherman and dog.
The first fisherman brought back to shore can be seen on his stomach. (Anoka County Sheriff's Office MN)
All were safely rescued.
An officer with the St. Francis Police Department assisted the deputies with the rescue, and can be seen as the dog runs to shore. (Anoka County Sheriff's Office MN)
The second fisherman is rescued from the ice. (Anoka County Sheriff's Office MN)
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"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.
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."
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