MINNEAPOLIS — Minneapolis Police officers rescued a 36-year-old man who fell through the ice on Lake of the Isles Thursday night. That man, who remains unidentified, was alert and speaking when rescued.
"Someone who's experiencing a life-threatening emergency does not care what jurisdiction it is," MPD Chief Brian O'Hara said. "They just need help."
Park Police Officer Karl Zabinski was one of the officers who responded and saved the man's life. He says they used life preservers and tow ropes to pull him to safety, with half a dozen officers helping.
"Obviously our concern was not to get too many people out on the ice and create more hazards and more victims," Zabinski said. "Thankfully, everything worked out as best as it could have and we were able to get the man out, I think about six minutes after we showed up."
This comes as temperatures are skyrocketing over the weekend.
"The ice is diminishing minute-by-minute through this weekend," Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board Police Chief Jason Ohotto said.
There are marked signs near the lake that say the ice is not safe – but Ohotto says this man will face no repercussions for going out onto the ice.
"I don't know what consequence we could give him that would be greater than having to spend those moments thinking that you're going to die in frigid water," Ohotto said.
This, now serving as a reminder to stay off the ice.
"The ice is not safe," Ohotto said. "There is nowhere in the city of Minneapolis where there is safe ice right now. No one should be going onto the ice."