VIDEO: Man and dog rescued after falling through ice
RAYMOND, Wis. (CBS 58) -- A man and two dogs are safe at home after they fell through ice on Sunday, March 5.
Rescue crews responded to a large private pond just before 2:30 p.m. Sunday, off of 3 Mile Road in Racine County.
The homeowner told CBS 58, she saw both of her dogs fall through the ice, and called her partner, Todd Fornes, to help.
"I hung up the phone. I didn't even talk to her. I put my shoes on and got here as fast as possible," Fornes told CBS 58.
He arrived to see her dogs, Stormy and Bo, in the middle of the pond.
Fornes told CBS 58 the pond is about nine feet deep.
Stormy was able to get out on her own, but her much fluffier brother, Bo, was in distress.
"He was weighing himself down with all the hair," Fornes said.
Fornes took off his shoes, grabbed a life ring, and slowly crawled on his stomach onto the ice, distributing his weight.
"I had to keep breaking the ice, and breaking the ice, until I got to him. So, the ice is a little sharp," Fornes said.
Once he grabbed Bo, rescue crews from the Racine County Sheriff's Office and Raymond Fire Department arrived.
"They threw me a rope, and I could grab a hold of the rope, and have enough stability to push Bo out, and then they pulled me into shore," Fornes said.
Within minutes, Fornes and Bo were back on land, warming up.
"Everybody's here. That's all that matters," Fornes said.
He went to the hospital afterwards to get checked out. Despite some scrapes and bruises, everyone is OK, and Fornes believes it was worth it.
"I wasn't going to leave Bo," Fornes said. "Any dog lover, hopefully they would do it."
This is Todd and his partner's dog, Bo.
— Jenna Wells (@JennaWellsNEWS) March 6, 2023
Todd saved Bo's life Sunday, when he fell through a large frozen pond in Racine County. Then, Todd was rescued by RCSO and volunteer firefighters.
Hear his story tonight on @CBS58 at 5 pic.twitter.com/p3gQUtd6g2
Fornes believed being prepared with a floatation device is what saved him from drowning, along with help from the rescue crews.
"It wasn't the cold that bothered me that much when I was in there. It was just, I was getting tired," Fornes said.
While the dog's owner didn't want to go on camera, she told CBS 58 she's grateful everyone is OK.
