Watch: Ice training turns real in Washington as dive team rescues man who falls through frozen lake in front of them

What began as a routine cold-water rescue drill turned into a dramatic lifesaving operation at Fish Lake in Washington’s Cascade Mountains on February 3.

Members of the King County Sheriff’s Office Marine Unit and the Mercer Island Police dive team were wrapping up their annual ice rescue training when they noticed a fisherman heading back toward shore. Within seconds, he disappeared, plunging through thin ice into 35-degree water.

“We saw him out of the corner of our eye, and then someone shouted, ‘He just went through!’” a marine unit sergeant recalled.

Still dressed in rescue gear and with equipment close at hand, deputies immediately rushed onto the unstable ice.

Spreading out to distribute their body weight, three rescuers first attempted to reach the man using a rescue tube. But as ice cracked beneath them, they were forced to quickly change strategy.

They switched to a rescue boogie board, carefully sliding it across the fragile surface. With assistance from team members positioned on the dock, they managed to pull the fisherman, and the rescuers, back onto solid ice.

The effort was not without danger. Several deputies also broke through the ice during the rescue, though all were safely recovered.

According to authorities, the fisherman had two friends with him at the lake. Officials later noted that without trained rescuers already on scene, the companions might have tried to help, potentially creating an even more tragic situation.

The man was taken to a nearby heated cabin, where he changed into dry clothes and was evaluated by medical personnel. He was later cleared to drive home.

Sgt. Rich Barton told local outlet KOMO News the outcome came down to timing. “Right place, right time,” he said. “I mean, if we had not been there, you would have been reporting on a different outcome.”

In another incident underscoring the risks of venturing onto frozen water, officials said a 35-year-old man is fortunate to be alive after a selfie attempt left him trapped in an icy pond in Indianapolis.

According to the Indianapolis Fire Department, the man had walked across the frozen surface to get closer to a fountain lit with colorful lights. The ice suddenly gave way beneath him, sending him plunging into the frigid water.

Authorities said he managed to grab onto the edge of the ice to keep himself afloat but was unable to climb back out on his own. What began as a photo opportunity quickly turned into a dangerous struggle for survival.

The cellphone he intended to use for a selfie ultimately saved his life. Officials said the man used it to call 911, allowing emergency crews to respond and pull him from the icy pond.