Lapeer County Woman Drowns Trying to Save Dog on Thin Ice

A 30-year-old Lapeer County woman died after allegedly trying to rescue a dog that had fallen through thin ice.

First responders were called to a home in Goodland Township at about 5:30 PM Wednesday (12/11) and found a pond with ice that was about one inch thick and a large patch of open water in the center.

Rescue workers recovered the bodies of the woman and her dog.

According to a post on the Lapeer County Sheriff's Department Facebook page, the woman is survived by her husband and a two-month-old baby.

From the Lapeer County Sheriff's Department:

“The family dog, apparently deceased, could be seen floating in the water. Members of several local fire departments (Goodland, Imlay City, Acadia, and Attica) who had responded to the scene used a paddle boat to paddle out to the open area of water breaking the one-inch thick ice along the way. Fire department personnel recovered the body of the homeowner, a thirty-year-old female, who had presumably gone on to the ice in an attempt to extricate her dog from the water.”

Know the Rules of Ice Safety

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources warns that there is no “inch thickness” to determine the safety of ice.

• No ice formed on bodies of water should be considered completely safe, but people should no explore ice that is less than four inches thick. The darker and clearer the ice, the stronger it typically is.
• Ice with visible bubbles or a honeycomb pattern is typically weaker.
• Ice that is covered with slush or snow should also be deemed weaker. Snow can act as an insulator which weakens ice and adds weight.