ANCHORAGE, Alaska—
A Cooper Landing man was rescued Saturday after falling through ice and spending nearly 20 minutes in the water, according to Alaska State Troopers.Troopers were informed at about 10:40 a.m. Saturday that 57-year-old Bob Overman was getting into position for fly fishing near a local bridge when he broke through ice and went into the water. A witness said Overman had been submerged at least once.
First responders, including a Cooper Landing Volunteer Fire and Rescue member and an Alaska Wildlife Trooper, threw a parachute cord tied to a backpack out to Overman. They were able to get him about 10 feet closer to shore before backup arrived.
“A second member of the Cooper Landing Volunteer Fire & Rescue arrived on scene,” troopers wrote in a Monday dispatch. “He was able to put together a make-shift lasso to throw out to Overman. Overman was able to get the lasso wrapped on his arm so he could be pulled out of the water and 25 yards closer to shore where the ice was thick enough to support his weight and the weight of the three rescuers.”
Overman was subsequently loaded onto a rescue sled and taken by ambulance to an airstrip, from which a LifeMed flight transported him to Anchorage. Rescuers estimate he was in the water for about 18 minutes.
