Seward Township/Burket Firefighers Kegan O’Brian and Brennen Adams are all smiles while they wait in the ambulance for the zippers in the gumby suits to thaw out after a successful water rescue at Beaver Dam this morning. InkFreeNews photo provided.

By Deb Patterson
InkFreeNews

BEAVER DAM — Things may have been a little different if K21 Foundation hadn’t assisted the Seward Township/Burket Fire Department in past years with purchasing necessary equipment — gumby suits and rescue sled — for cold water rescues.

Around 7 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 26, the fire department was called to Beaver Dam Lake for a water rescue. An older gentleman, who resides around the lake, had gone out to rescue his dog that had fallen into the water. The dog’s owner took out his boat and rescued the dog. But he could only get back within 100 to 125 feet from shore.

Kevin McSherry, fire chief, reported there was an ice ledge around the lake but open water beyond.

Firefighters suited up in the cold water rescue “gumby suits,” and then used the rescue sled and broke through the ice to tie a rope to the boat and safely pull the boat and its occupants to shore. The dog, man and rescuers were OK, however, the cold temperatures caused the zippers on the suits to freeze shut. The firefighters warmed up in the ambulance, which responded to the scene, to thaw out the zippers and allow them to remove the suits.

McSherry noted it was a shining moment for K21.