82-Year-Old Man Rescued After Falling Through Ice on Morris Co. Lake

MORRIS COUNTY, NJ — What began as a routine ice rescue training on Lake Hopatcong turned into a life-saving operation for an 82-year-old man who fell through the ice last week, officials said.

The incident occurred Wednesday near the Lake Hopatcong Yacht Club while the victim was piloting an iceboat, a wind-powered craft used to travel over ice. At the same time, the Morris County Sheriff’s Office and New Jersey State Police were conducting joint ice rescue training at Lee’s County Park Marina.

Their training was interrupted as personnel rushed responded to the scene, where they joined three Mt. Arlington Fire Department officials who had already arrived and were heading to the victim.

The man was found lying on the ice with his partially submerged iceboat beneath him, conscious and alert, officials said.

He was placed onto a rescue sled by Mount Arlington firefighters, who had secured a sling around him. Rescuers then used a MARSARS Ice Rescue Sled to pull him to the edge of the ice and carry him through waist-deep water to shore.

He was then taken to a St. Clare’s EMS unit for further medical evaluation.

"It is work like this, with our other public safety partners, that makes it all worth it. Responding in a time of need and applying our training to help an individual who is in dire consequences, all with positive outcomes," Sheriff James M. Gannon said Thursday. "Saving lives is the purpose of our mission and the reason why we train together and ensure seamless performance,"

Following the rescue, state troopers and firefighters returned to the ice to recover the man’s iceboat, which had been left behind.