Two adults rescued after breaking through ice on Willow Reservoir

For the Tomahawk Leader

WILLOW RESERVOIR – Two adults were rescued after breaking through the ice on the Willow Reservoir yesterday.

According to a post on the Little Rice Fire Department’s Facebook page, on Thursday, March 7, two adults were ice fishing on the Willow Reservoir when they broke through the ice and were unable to get back to solid ice.

The water was 32°, according to the post.

Personnel from the Little Rice Fire Department, the Oneida County Sheriff's Department, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR), the Oneida County Dive Team, the Minocqua Fire Department, the Newbold Fire Department, Oneida County Medic 4, Lincoln County Medic E-25, Aspirus MedEvac Helicopter, GLIWC DNR, the Wisconsin State Patrol, the Cassian Fire Department and the Oneida County Dispatch Center, as well as several private citizens, were involved retrieving the individuals from the ice.

A UPS driver discovered the individuals in the ice and called for help, the post said, noting that the individuals were transported to a local hospital for treatment and were in “pretty good condition.”

“We truly appreciate everyone's help and cooperation during the rescue,” the post stated.

In a Friday, March 8 post, the department said the individuals wanted to express their “heartfelt gratitude and thanks for saving their lives.”

“They honestly did not think they were going to survive,” the post stated. “So to all involved yesterday, blessings.”