Woman rescued from Pigeon Lake

Posted at 3:30 p.m. on December 27, 2021

The Brillion News

TOWN OF LIBERTY, Manitowoc County - A 31-year old Chicago, I;;l., woman was rescued from the cold waters of Pigeon Lake, south of Valders and east of St. Nazianz, shortly before noon on Monday, December 27.

Manitowoc County Sheriff Dan Hartwig said the woman tried to catch her dogs that had run out on the ice. Both she and the dogs broke through the thin ice and fell into the water.

A 32-year old New Holstein man saw her plight and launch a kayak in an attempt to rescue the lady and the dogs.

[Photo of Pigeon Lake in the summer >>]

He ended up in the water, too, but both he and the woman were ablt to get on top of the pic. Firefighters were able to rescue both of them, and the dogs managed to get to shore, where a Good Samaritan took care of the.

Both the man and woman were taken to a hospital.

Providentially, the Valders, Brillion, Reedsville and Potter fire departments, on December 20, trained at cold weather water rescue on thin ice at Bullhead Lake in western Manitowoc County, between Collins and Potter. [<< Photo at left]

The Ice on Bullhead Lake was only only inch thick and the fire departments asked people to stay away from the ice until much colder weather creates thicker ice.

The Valders Fire Department said that no Ice is ever 100 percent safe, especially this early in the season.

The sheriff advised people to stay off ice unless they know it is sturdy.

The agencies effecting the rescue were the sheriff's department, Newton Fire Department, St.. Nazianz Fire Department, Valders Fire Department, Manitowoc Fire/Rescue Department. Valders Ambulance and St. Nazianz EMS First Responders. The emergency response was coordinated by the Manitowoc County Joint Dispatch Center