Two men rescued after falling through thin ice

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) - A couple of men have fallen through thin ice this week, one man almost losing his life.

At 11:07 a.m. Thursday, several authorities responded to Michael Gosnell falling through the ice on a pond near Roush Lake in Huntington County. Gosnell's friend called 911. An Indiana Conservation Officer and a Markle firefighter rescued Gosnell and took him to the hospital. He was treated for cold-related injuries, bruises and cuts.

"The best thing that this gentleman in Huntington could have had was, exactly what he did, was having companion," said Jacob Carlile, a Indiana Department of Natural Resources officer. "If he would have been out alone, it could have been a fatality."

On Tuesday, Fort Wayne firefighters responded to a man and his pet falling through Stone Lake off Winchester Road. Firefighters had to go out about 70 feet from the shore to pull the man and his pet out.

"I know people love their pets, but leave them be. Call us, we'll get your pet out. That's what we do, that's what we're here for," said Fort Wayne Fire Captain Tom Helmkamp.

The FWFD currently has a 30 member dive team. They train every year by going to an icy lake and trying to save one of the members in the water.

"We always tell everyone, that no ice is safe ice, no matter how cold it is," Captain Helmkamp said.

The Fort Wayne Parks and Recreation Department has closed several ponds to skaters because the ice is too thin. Those parks are Franke, East Swinney, Lakeside, and Reservoir Park. Park officials encourage skaters to go to Headwaters Park until these ponds are safe again to skate on.