A Bloomfield man is recovering after being rescued from the frigid water yesterday at a reservoir in Greene-Sullivan State Forest near Dugger.
At approximately 9:22 a.m., Indiana Conservation Officers responded to a water rescue at Reservoir 26 in the state forest.
On site, conservation officers learned three men were attempting to waterfowl hunt when the aluminum boat two of the men were in overturned on the ice-covered reservoir, causing the occupants, David Thornton, 34, of Bloomfield, and Coleman Chasteen, 35, of Bloomington, to fall into the water approximately 300 feet from shore. The third person, Kyle Britton, 25, of Bloomfield, was stranded nearby in a kayak.
Chasteen, who was wearing a life jacket, self-rescued to a nearby island 90 feet away. He then transferred the life jacket to Thornton, who remained in the water.
Conservation Officer Matt Landis, equipped with a dry suit, life jacket, and rescue rope, and with the help of police and fire personnel, performed a hands-on rescue of Thornton, who had been in the water for approximately 50 minutes. Thornton was transported by Lifeline Helicopter to Eskenazi Hospital in Indianapolis. Despite the prolonged exposure, he was conscious, alert, and able to walk at the time of transport.
Conservation officers were then able to use an airboat to transport the remaining two men, along with the hunters’ boat, kayak, and equipment back to shore.
Agencies assisting on scene included the Sullivan County Sheriff’s Department, Linton Police Department, Dugger Town Marshal, Indiana State Police, Dugger Police Department, Linton Fire Department, Greene County Fire Department, Thunderbird Fire Department, Union Fire Department, and Hymera-Jackson Township Fire Department.