Man rescued from Little Bitterroot Lake

A man was rescued Tuesday from Little Bitterroot Lake after at least 20 minutes in frigid water. He came out incoherent and cold, but safe.

John Leach of the Marion fire department said the Flathead Valley man was probably ice fishing when he fell through soft ice about 450 feet from shore.

"Someone saw him and called 911," Leach said. The fire and ambulance crews arrived within about 10 minutes.

The man was in water that was about 35 degrees and 12 to 14 feet deep, Leach said.

Rescuers tried to throw rope bags out to the man, but he was in no condition to assist with his rescue.

Sheriff's deputy Tom Snyder, coordinator of search and rescue, had rescuers coax the man into putting both arms onto the ice in front of him. His wet clothing froze to the ice, so he couldn't let go or go underwater, no matter how exhausted or weak he was.

It was good advice and may have helped save the man's life, Leach said.

Divers James Brower and Roman Mallory were there to get to the man the hard way - through the water, since the ice is so unstable. The man was pulled onto solid ice and went by Marion ambulance to Kalispell Regional Medical Center. It took about 10 minutes to rescue him, Leach said.

Just a few weeks ago, two men dumped a four-wheeler into the lake through thin ice. They were rescued and the vehicle was eventually recovered, Leach said.

He said he hopes people understands that ice-fishing season is over on the lake.

"The ice is very thin," he said. "Anyone out there is one evolutionary step above the bait."