WADSWORTH, Ohio — An ice fisherman was rescued after falling through the ice at a Medina County park on Thursday morning.
The incident happened around 11 a.m. at River Styx Park in Wadsworth.
According to Medina County Park District Chief Ranger David Swinehart, a 67-year-old Rittman resident fell through the ice on a pond and starting yelling for help.
A good Samaritan, Tod Peterson, of Wadsworth, ran towards the pond and saw the man had fallen through the ice. The man was about 75 feet from shore. Peterson called 911.
"He struck me as a strong guy, but he definitely was starting to moan and he was in pain," Peterson told News 5.
At first, deputies and officers threw some ropes at the man who was clinging to the ice, but due to his condition, it was unsuccessful.
Members of the Seville-Guilford Fire Department entered the ice and rescue the victim. Within four minutes of the rescuers entering the pond, the man was brought to shore.
The man was conscious and breathing but was taken by a medical helicopter to Cleveland Clinic Akron General, Swinehart said. The man was later released and is recovering at home.
"He remembers awakening in the hospital and he was shaking very, very bad," said his wife, Patti. "I'm thankful. I'm thankful to everyone. Tim was alone that day."
This is the third ice incident within one week in Medina County.
Law enforcement stressed that the incident should serve as a reminder that no ice is safe ice.
