A friend just notified Stan of a tragedy that occurred last night on the lake where Stan grew up near Alexandria. The news story (below) brought back memories of a boyhood experience on the same lake that could have ended similarly.
Stan was about eight years old at the time and out playing with siblings on the frozen lake not too far from their home. Despite warnings from an older sister, curiosity caused him to step on the thin skin that had formed over a recently abandoned ice fishing hole. The rectangular hole was wide enough to easily accommodate dark house spear fishing, so when the ice gave way under the youngster's weight, down he went, plunging into the icy water. Fortunately, his elbows caught on the edge of the hole and his sister quickly put out a hand and helped him scramble out. He dashed a half mile home in frozen clothes. A frozen zipper required his mother to pull his jacket over his head to get it off. His mother was always pretty relaxed about her kids roaming about. Not so much that day.
Our thoughts are with the Alexandria family and their tragic loss.
By Al Edenloff
EchoPress
Today at 11:56 a.m.
One of the people rescued after falling through the ice of Lake Andrew last night has died, according to family members.
In a statement issued this morning, the family said that James Minnerath, 50, of Alexandria passed away.
Minnerath's 2-year-old grandson, Hayden Minnerath, who was with him at the time of the accident, is receiving care at Children's Hospital and Clinics in the Twin Cities and is listed in critical condition, according to the family. "Our family would like to thank the community for its thoughts and well wishes, and request privacy at this difficult time," the family said in the statement. At about 8:45 p.m. Tuesday night, a resident on the lake, Brad Brejcha, called 911 to report that Minnerath and his grandson had been traveling in a utility task vehicle (UTV) on the lake, located southwest of Alexandria, and were overdue.
Brejcha had went out to look for them and located a large hole in the ice and said that it appeared the UTV had broken through.
The dive team was activated and arrived on scene with Douglas County patrol units.
Dive team members located the two victims submerged in the water and brought them to shore.
The victims were taken by ambulance to the Douglas County Hospital. Hayden was airlifted to Children's Hospital and James was airlifted to North Memorial Hospital in Robbinsdale.
Responding units included the Douglas County Sheriff's Office, the dive team and North Ambulance.
This morning, dive team members and the Bosek Underwater Recovery Services pulled the UTV out of the water.
EchoPress
Today at 11:56 a.m.
One of the people rescued after falling through the ice of Lake Andrew last night has died, according to family members.
In a statement issued this morning, the family said that James Minnerath, 50, of Alexandria passed away.
Minnerath's 2-year-old grandson, Hayden Minnerath, who was with him at the time of the accident, is receiving care at Children's Hospital and Clinics in the Twin Cities and is listed in critical condition, according to the family. "Our family would like to thank the community for its thoughts and well wishes, and request privacy at this difficult time," the family said in the statement. At about 8:45 p.m. Tuesday night, a resident on the lake, Brad Brejcha, called 911 to report that Minnerath and his grandson had been traveling in a utility task vehicle (UTV) on the lake, located southwest of Alexandria, and were overdue.
Brejcha had went out to look for them and located a large hole in the ice and said that it appeared the UTV had broken through.
The dive team was activated and arrived on scene with Douglas County patrol units.
Dive team members located the two victims submerged in the water and brought them to shore.
The victims were taken by ambulance to the Douglas County Hospital. Hayden was airlifted to Children's Hospital and James was airlifted to North Memorial Hospital in Robbinsdale.
Responding units included the Douglas County Sheriff's Office, the dive team and North Ambulance.
This morning, dive team members and the Bosek Underwater Recovery Services pulled the UTV out of the water.
