Two teens rescued from ice on Avondale Lake

HAYDEN LAKE, Idaho — Several North Idaho agencies helped rescue two teenagers who had fallen through the ice on Avondale Lake Saturday afternoon.

Northern Lakes Fire and Rescue, Coeur d’Alene Fire and Rescue, and the Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office all responded to a call around 4:45 p.m. Saturday.

First responders found them in the water several hundred yards away from shore. One of the teens was able to crawl back up onto the ice and was trying to hold up the other, who was still in the water and clinging to the ice.

Dive and rescue team members from the three agencies had to fight through the ice, which was thin and covered in slush, to reach the them but were able to safely pull both of the teens to shore.

The Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office says several members of the community also helped in the rescue.

Both teenagers were taken to Kootenai Health to be treated for severe hypothermia from being in the water.

The Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office want to remind everyone:

With temperatures increasing, ice on our local lakes is becoming dangerously thin and fragile. Always wear a personal floatation device when recreating near the water.

COPYRIGHT 2023 BY KXLY. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. THIS MATERIAL MAY NOT BE PUBLISHED, BROADCAST, REWRITTEN OR REDISTRIBUTED.