NEW FRANKLIN, Ohio — A call to Turkeyfoot Lake at 1:47 a.m. proved once again to New Franklin Officer Dan Kulcsar that every day on his job is unique.
"Every call is different, someway somehow," Kulcsar said.
On this particular call, there was a report that someone had fallen through the ice in foggy conditions around the area of Lahm Drive.
It turned out the woman had been a passenger in a car that mistakenly drove onto the lake and went through the ice.
"Somebody is screaming in the water. We weren't sure where she was," Kulcsar said.
Another officer, Ethan Towell, located a 63-year-old woman struggling in the water. She was about 50-feet from shore in an area of the lake that's about 10-feet deep.
"You fall into ice, it's like knives stabbing your body, so you're completely incapacitated. You don't know what's going on," Kulcsar said.
Towell secured a canoe from a neighbor's house and Kulcsar jumped in it.
"Push me, brother. Push me in," Kulcsar told Towell.
Kulcsar headed towards the woman in distress and immediately told her to grab onto the canoe.
"OK, stay on the boat, ma'am. Grab on to this side. Grab on to this side," he said.
The officer, who has been on the force around three years, realized that time was critical. In total, police estimate she was in chilly water for 20 to 25 minutes.
"We were getting worried. At the time, she might not (make it), but at that time, you can only do so much," Kulcsar said.
The officer kept a strong grip on the woman and continually reassured her for nearly 10 minutes.
"I got you. I'm not gonna let you go in. You keep moving ma'am. You got to keep moving."
She responded in a halting voice, "I am." The officer then said, "You're doing a good job."
Kulcsar tried to pull the woman into the canoe, but it proved too difficult and risky.
"I didn't want to dump the canoe and then have us both be in there, and then now they somebody else trying to rescue two people."
Firefighters arrived in cold water suits and used a Stokes basket and ropes to bring her to safety.
After that, the firefighters pulled Kulcsar and the canoe back to land.
"Well, that was the highlight of my night," Kulcsar said after the ordeal was over.
New Franklin Fire Chief Steve Leslie said the woman suffered severe hypothermia and was taken to Summa Akron City Hospital. Her injuries are not considered life-threatening.
Leslie believes the actions by the officers were heroic.
"To adapt and be able to grab that canoe and know to take that canoe out there says a lot for him thinking under pressure," Leslie said.
Asked about the hero label, Kulcsar said, "I guess you can call us a hero. It's just what we get paid to do—to protect the city and the citizens the best we can."
Before the rescue, police said the woman was a passenger in the car. According to officers, the driver got confused in a parking lot and drove onto the lake for a lengthy period of time before the car went through the ice.
The driver was able to get out on her own and screamed for help. Police told News 5 they believe the driver was drunk and charges are expected against her.
As for Kulcsar, he's grateful that his middle-of-the-night adventure in a canoe had a happy ending.
"She's fortunate, and I'm glad she's going to be okay."
The frightening incident prompted firefighters to remind people about the dangers of going out on the ice.
"The New Franklin Fire Department reminds everyone that no ice is 100% safe. The department recommends that if you do go out on the ice for whatever reason, you should not go alone. If you break through, hypothermia causes a loss of motor skills within a matter of minutes. Everyone should always wear a personal flotation device when on or around the water," Leslie said.
