By Staff
CASSOPOLIS - Two men survived plunges through thin crust into icy lakes in separate incidents New Year's Eve on Juno and Big Fish lakes.
Cass County Sheriff department reports all area lakes have very thin ice and they are unsafe for individuals to attempt to go out on them. On Friday, Dec. 31, the office responded to a call about 4:30 p.m. of a man through the ice on Juno Lake in Ontwa Township.
David J. Smith, 30, of Elkhart, Ind., fell through the ice while returning to shore from a day of ice fishing. Smith advised ice gave way without any warning and that he thought it was thick enough to support his weight at the time of the incident.
The Sheriff's Office, along with Marcellus fire and ambulance personnel, responded to a call around 12:30 p.m. of a man falling through the ice on Big Fish Lake.
Scott James Rozeboom, 25, of Holland, had also been ice fishing on the lake when he fell through the ice while attempting to return to his vehicle.Rozeboom had been in the frigid water for about 30 minutes before rescue personnel were able to remove him.