Tammy saves snowmobiler in Lake Superior

OPP NEWS RELEASE

************************* Local resident and fire crew hailed as heroes for saving man's life

HAVILLAND TOWNSHIP, ON - (January 12) - On Sunday, January 11, 2009 at 1:10 p.m., Tammy Berto, a resident of Albert Terrace in Havilland Township just happened to be looking out the window of her residence which overlooks Havilland Bay on Lake Superior when she saw a snowmobile out on the ice.

Two days prior that section had been open water.

At that moment, Berto observed the snowmobile’s back end go through the ice, come back up and do a 360 degree spin before the driver and machine went through the ice and into the frigid water of Lake Superior.

Berto immediately called 911 then her and her daughter’s boyfriend went next door, grabbed an aluminum boat and tried to rescue the snowmobile by chipping their way through the ice but were unable to get all the way.

Berto kept talking to the snowmobiler giving him words of encouragement as he was unable to get out of the water.

Moments later the Goulais River Fire and Rescue Department arrived on scene with the OPP.

Members of the Goulais River Fire Department using rescue equipment, crawled out to where the snowmobiler was.

One member entered the water to help the snowmobiler up onto the ice.

OPP officers, Goulais River Fire Department members, OPP STOP officers, along with two off-duty Ministry of Natural Resources conservation officers assisted to pull the snowmobiler to shore where ambulance attendants were waiting.

Sixty-one-year-old Steve Fosberg of Havilland Shores Drive was transported to Sault Area Hospital and is listed in stable condition.

This incident comes just days after OPP issued a warning urging operators to exercise caution while riding a snowmobile.

Sled safety is in the hands of the operator.

Snowmobile operators must use common sense, exercise caution.

It could be a life or death decision.

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