77-year-old man and his dog rescued after they broke through ice near Seelyville

By FRANK PHILLIPS

frankphi@hotmail.com
Friday, March 9, 2007 9:27 AM CST

A rural Terre Haute man fell through the ice on a pond and nearly drowned Thursday, reported Indiana Conservation Officer Max Winchell.

Around 8:30 p.m., Mrs. William Trinler, 9230 E. Petiford Ave., Terre Haute (near Seelyville), called Indiana State Police to report her husband, William, age 77, had fallen through the ice on a pond near their residence. William had walked on the pond to rescue the family dog, Mrs. Trinler said.

“Charlie”, a two and a half year old Keeshond, had walked out near the middle of the half acre pond and broken through the ice. Mr. Trinler had held onto the edge of an aluminum boat, that he kept on the pond, and attempted to walk out to the dog when he fell through the rotten ice, the press release stated.

When Vigo County Sheriff's Deputy Jim Palmer arrived, he saw that that Mr. Trinler was in the water, about 45 feet from shore, still holding onto the board.

Deputy Palmer walked out on the ice and got to the boat when he also broke through the ice. He managed to get into the boat and get Mr. Trinler into the boat as well.

William told Deputy Palmer that he could not hold on to the boat any longer and that he thought he was going to die. He had been in the icy water an estimated 30 to 45 minutes.

Charlie, the Keeshond, was still in the water, holding his head above the water with his chin on the edge of the ice when William was rescued.

Indiana State Police Officer Chris Wright and Indiana Conservation Officer Max Winchell wearing scuba dry suits, broke ice about 80 feet from shore and rescued the dog.

Charlie was taken to a veterinarian and treated for hypothermia.