Missing 78-year-old went skating on frozen bay and fell through ice, Wisconsin cops say
A Wisconsin man was found dead after officials say he went missing when he left to go ice skating.
Gregory Garmer, 78, left his home around 1 p.m. Dec. 1 to go ice skating on a frozen bay, according to the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office.
Garmer was reported missing after he never returned home, officials said.
A search was immediately conducted and a helicopter and other technology were used to look for him.
At around 4 p.m. Dec. 2, Garmer was found dead after officials said he fell through ice.
“Our Community’s heart is broken,” one person wrote on Facebook. “We have lost a wonderful man. I can not express what a dear, wonderful, kind man Greg Garmer was.”
What to do if you fall through ice
It’s never a guarantee that ice is safe to walk on.
You can’t judge the strength of ice by its appearance. Its strength also has to do with the water under the ice and the distribution of the load on the ice, according to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.
Even if every safety precaution is followed, sometimes the ice can begin to shatter. Here’s what to do if you find yourself plunging through ice:
Don’t take off your winter clothing. They’ll keep you warm and provide flotation.
Turn toward the direction you came.
Put your hands and arms on unbroken ice, and use available tools to try to pull yourself up.
Kick your feet and dig in.
Lie flat on the ice to keep your weight spread out. This will help prevent you from falling in again.
Get to a warm and dry place immediately.
