Troopers rescue ice fisher in Steuben County

WAYLAND, N.Y. (WETM) — According to New York State Police, on Wednesday, troopers were dispatched to Wayland in Steuben County for an ice rescue. A call came in at around 11:30 a.m. of two ice fisherman that had fallen through the ice on Loon Lake. Trooper Matthew J. Mckinney was already at the lake when [...]

WAYLAND, N.Y. (WETM) — According to New York State Police, on Wednesday, troopers were dispatched to Wayland in Steuben County for an ice rescue. A call came in at around 11:30 a.m. of two ice fisherman that had fallen through the ice on Loon Lake.

Trooper Matthew J. Mckinney was already at the lake when the call was dispatched. According to reports, Mckinney saw a male, 20-year-old Spencer R. Eaton, at an ice shanty on the lake. Mckinney shouted out to Eaton to see if he was fishing by himself. It was then that he discovered Eaton's stepfather Marc D. Rounsville had fallen through the ice.

Eaton was holding onto his stepfather but was unable to pull him out of the water.

Mckinney returned to his troop car and drove to a local boat launch to establish an escape route, obtaining a life jacket from the Laf A Lot Restaurant and a rope from his patrol vehicle.

Three more troopers arrived on the scene, working together to tie ropes around their waists and carry a ladder out as they made their way through the water.

After running out of rope, Mckinney risked his safety to continue another 100 to 150 feet to Rounsville, placing the ladder on the ice next to him to help him out of the water. After great efforts, the man was pulled out of the water and onto the ladder, where it was used as a makeshift stretcher.

Fire department personnel were then able to get Rounsville to land, where he was transported by ambulance to Noyes Memorial Hospital for exposure treatment.