An ice fisherman died after suffering a heart attack while on Lake Erie, FOX8 reports. The 52-year-old man, identified as Ben Eickholt, collapsed on the ice between Catawba Island and South Bass Island on Sunday, according to witnesses and authorities. Fellow fishermen initiated CPR until a U.S. Coast Guard helicopter arrived to evacuate Eickholt to Magruder Hospital, where he later passed away.
WTOL detailed that the emergency call was made at approximately 9:30 a.m. after Eickholt fell while setting up ice shanties. Nearby fishermen provided life-saving aid for an hour until severe weather conditions made the Coast Guard rescue essential, and only through a coordinated effort were they able to reach the man in time.
The tragedy drew poignant words from Charlie Kempf, owner of THC Ice Guide Service, where Eickholt was employed. "It’s just left a big empty hole in my heart really," Kempf said, "I just can’t believe this is happening," in a statement provided by WTOL. The Catawba Island Township Police Department reported challenges in locating Eickholt on the ice due to the vast, featureless terrain.
Ottawa County Sheriff Steve Levorchick spoke to the difficulty of such rescue missions, saying, "In Ottawa County, we have 255 square miles of land, but we have 320 square miles of water," and he pointed out the absence of landmarks complicates the efforts to pinpoint individuals in distress, this information echoes sentiments expressed in additional reports, suggesting that a precise GPS location from the 911 call was crucial to finding Eickholt. THC Ice Guide Service made a social media post requesting thoughts and prayers for Eickholt's family, as reported by WTOL.
Kempf emphasized the importance of CPR training in such incidents, hoping that the unfortunate event raises awareness among ice fishermen about the importance of being prepared for emergencies; "I think it’s pretty imperative that people learn CPR," Kempf told WTOL, "It can be a lifesaver in a lot of instances. It’s a very useful tool in your back pocket in so many circumstances where you could help somebody else."
