Officials say ice may appear to be thick, but use caution if you're heading out on the ice to go fishing. The warning comes after two people fell through ice and drowned in southwest Iowa Monday night.More >> As the winter weather starts to move out the Iowa DNR is urging people to be careful around ice over ponds, lakes, and rivers. The melting ice can quickly become a dangerous situation.More >>
WATERLOO (KWWL) -
Waterloo Police have released the name of the fisherman that died at the hospital after being pulled from George Wyth Lake Wednesday night.
They said the thin ice on the lake gave way causing Wade William Clark, 51, of Cedar Falls, to fall in Wednesday night. Crews say Clark was in the icy waters for about an hour.
Around 7:20 p.m. on Wednesday, a George Wyth State Park Ranger heard Clark calling for help from the water. Dense fog and darkness prevented the ranger from seeing him. He was about 200 yards from the shore. He immediately called Waterloo Police and Waterloo Fire Rescue.
The Waterloo Fire Rescue teams donned ice water rescue wet suits, used flashlights and safety ropes and their 'Rescue Alive' flotation device to search for the man. The thin ice on George Wyth Lake broke several times on the rescue team, but they finally located Clark in the water and pulled him to shore on the Rescue Alive.
Waterloo Fire Rescue Battalion Chief Mike Junk said the man was unresponsive when they pulled him from the icy waters. Battalion Chief Junk also said Clark appeared to have been tangled up in his ice fishing tent. The lake waters may have given way while he was inside his fishing tent.
The incident serves as a reminder that many Iowa lakes are not safe for ice fishing right now, following several days of warmer than normal temperatures.
