Alert citizens save UP conservation officer's life

NEWS RELEASE

MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES

************************* Local residents assist in rescuing conservation officer

Department of Natural Resources and Environment Conservation Officer Dennis Gast was responding on a snowmobile to a complaint of set lines on Otter Lake near Chassell in Houghton County last Saturday night when he fell through thin ice and found himself in eight feet of freezing water.

Fortunately, Gast was able to alert nearby residents to assist him, preventing a serious situation from taking an even more grave turn.

“Sometimes our officers find themselves in dangerous situations and settings, such as Officer Gast did while responding to this complaint,” said Sergeant Steve Burton, DNRE law enforcement supervisor at the Baraga operations service center.

“At these times, we sometimes require help from the public. In this situation, Officer Gast was lucky that nearby residents heard his shouts for help; or this incident could have ended very differently.”

After Gast fell through the ice, he struggled to free himself because of the weight of his uniform and equipment that all conservation officers carry while on the job.

He realized his attempts to free himself would be difficult due to the poor condition of the surrounding ice, so he started to shout for help after noticing activity at a nearby cabin.

Steve Nash, from the Houghton area, was renting a cabin on Otter Lake, heard Gast’s calls for help and took his snowmobile out to investigate.

Using his coat as a rope, Nash was able to pull Gast from the water and started to transport him back to his cabin.

Nash’s brother, Russell, of Holland, also at the cabin, watched from shore.

About halfway to the cabin, the snowmobile carrying Nash and Gast fell through the ice.

Russell Nash notified neighboring homeowners Julie and John Filpus, and the brother and sister team were able to use a broomstick to pull out Steve Nash and assist Gast out of the water.

The Filpuses were able to transport Nash and Gast to their cabin and treated them for moderate hypothermia.

The snowmobiles were recovered the next day by John and Harold Filpus, Steve and Russell Nash, along with CO Dennis Gast and DNRE Wildlife Technician Brad Johnson.

The snowmobiles were brought to the Baraga High School small engine repair class and were repaired and returned.

“The DNRE appreciates the assistance of Steve and Russell Nash, Harold, John and Julie Filpus in coming to the rescue of Officer Gast.

"We believe that these individuals saved his life,” Burton said. “We also want to thank the many people who assisted in the recovery of the snowmobiles, as well as the Baraga High School students who assisted in repair of the sleds.”

The Department of Natural Resources and Environment is committed to the conservation, protection, management, and accessible use and enjoyment of the state’s environment, natural resources, and related economic interests for current and future generations.

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