Snowmobile through the ice in Laconia
 

On the scanner. Missed where in Laconia, but snowmobile through the ice, and 911 is reporting no contact with the operator...not known if on the ice or in the water. Missed the early part of the call as to whether it is Winnipesaukee, Opechee, or Winnisquam.

Units on scene
 

Laconia command reports two subjects in the water and they are communicating at least one of them.

update...
 

one person has been removed from the water, still working on getting second one out.

I heard that as well. They are now 40 minutes in and still trying to find one person. Hopefully they will all be safe.

R2B

thanks
 

I just heard dispatch say the second victim is on the ice. Like you, hope all will be ok.

All rescuers now are off the ice. DART just landed at LRGH for transport of at least one.

Prayers to all involved.

R2B

All rescuers off the ice and the two victims both at LRGH. Hope all is well. Good night.

Sent from my GT-P5210 using Tapatalk

From the in-service transmissions, I believe the incident was off Shore Drive, Lake Winnisquam.

R2B

You are correct, it was off of Shore Drive. I would guess it was close to being behind Agway.:)

Per Channel 9 news at 11
 

they were about 1500 ft off shore when the snowmobile went through the ice. One person got out and got to shore. Second had to be rescued and was suffering from extreme hypothermia. Both were taken to LRGH. And yes to it being on Winnisquam.

Best thoughts for a full recovery for both, and a good lesson learned.

Just heard from someone that knows both of them that they are both going to be OK. Thank God for the Laconia Fire Department and all the cold water rescue training these wonderful people do.

R2B

Glad they are ok, but WHAT ARE THEY THINKING? Not to mention they not only endanger themselves, but the rescuers. Haven't the authorities said the ice is not safe for snowmobiles yet?

Skimming
 

It was the two guys, both in their 20's, doing the illegal act of skimming open water. There is open water over much of Winnisquam.

Something I would definitely not do is skim when there is two people on the machine.

Kudos to the Laconia and Gilford Fire Dept personnel who are trained for this and save the life of one man who was in 33 degrees of water for a good 90 minutes. A bit unbelievable!

From the Union Leader:
 

http://www.unionleader.com/article/2...WS07/150119862

No mention of any charges pending, or if the snowmobile was still in the water.

Citizen article:

http://thecitizen.villagesoup.com/p/...isquam/1290787

Bobhouses
 

I am amaze at the number of bob houses already on Lake Winnisquam despite open water in the middle all it takes is a good windy day and the lake will open up again!

There is one off of the association beach about 2,000 feet out. From shore it looks like it is sitting next to open water!

This is not the case at all. They were not skimming. They were riding two separate vintage snowmobiles. If you read the reports and hear the first hand accounts from the victims you would know this. These two boys would never have used their vintage sleds to skim. They were doing nothing illegal and it was 100% an accident. I do agree that the fire and police departments did an amazing job saving them but it was also due to the quick thinking of both boys that kept them both alive.

To be fair, the Union Leader reported they were skimming. It also mentioned only one sled, but to me that made no sense. The Citizen article made much more sense saying nothing about skimming and that there were two sleds.

I was not there, but I think the Citizen had it right and that the Union Leader did a horrible job of reporting what actually happened. Happy all are well and happy they were not skimming.

R2B

Actually, varying reports as to what happened,
 

In the Union Leader report, it says that one of the guys told a homeowner they had been skimming over open water. The Laconia Citizen report is markedly different. Not sure what the truth is...perhaps in the middle somewhere.

Regardless of the true story or circumstances, the fact remains that they should NOT have been on the ice...period. Every report on ice conditions warned against it, all state agencies had news stories asking people to stay off the ice as unsafe, yet in the dark, they did it anyway.

I'm glad they are safe. But the fact remains that they were unnecessarily reckless.

Agreed- even if they were not skimming, the "boys" (20 something year olds are not boys IMO) knew they should not be on the ice.

Everyone going on the ice for anything should have ice picks with them so they have a chance to pull themselves out.

Can NH bill for these rescues like they do hikers if involved parties were declared ill-prepared?

Getting their Sleds out of the Water is Number 1
 

The bigger concern is getting the 2 Sled out of the Water. Usually if there is a "good faith" effort Fish&game will give them the time to do it.


WINNOCTURN

I always carry ice picks, and I am always amazed at the number of riders who have no clues as to what they are, but love the idea after I explain.

Eagle Claw Ice Safety Picks $7.99, priceless if you need them.
http://www.amazon.com/Eagle-Claw-Ice.../dp/B00649UBFA

That's them.....