Skater thankful for rescue after going through Big Lake ice

BIG LAKE — Nov. 5 will be a day not soon forgotten for 47-year-old Big Lake resident and avid skater Jeff DeHerrera.

That day, he had measured the ice thickness on Big Lake. Finding it be about six inches thick, the avid skater donned his pair and hit the smooth, clear surface. A short time later, he was no longer skating, but rather swimming.

“I had been skating on it for a couple of days,” DeHerrera said. “There was still open water offshore about 100 meters. I didn’t hear any ice cracks and it happened really fast too. Then ‘boom,’ the crash.”

Before he realized it, DeHerrera said he was not only in the water, but under the ice. He said momentum kept him moving forward and as he surfaced, the ice was above him. DeHerrara said he didn’t call out for help but instead tried to get himself out of the water adding he was unable to find the lake’s bottom.

“I wasn’t sweating it. I was in there for 12-15 minutes and I realized I wasn’t getting out. I had made a hole about 20 feet in diameter,” said DeHerrera.

He said contrary to what various media has said about the incident, he wasn’t wearing a wetsuit or other coldwater gear. He did have on a lycra-type body suit similar to those used by speed-skaters. He also said there were two members of the West Lakes Fire Department (WLFD) responsible for pulling him back to shore. Additionally, he said local residents Terry Archibald and Chris Hoskinson called 911 and attempted to get a board out to him.

According to social media, Hoskinson said she kept hearing someone screaming. She said she thought it was just neighborhood kids until she looked out onto the lake and saw DeHerrera flailing in the water. Hoskinson said she remembered the family’s paddleboard and ventured out onto the precarious ice. Estimating she was 10 feet away, she pushed the board to DeHerrera who, because of hypothermia, was unable to hold on to it.

“I was wearing a pair of shorts and something similar to undergear. The number one coldwater rescue team was out of the area, There were two guys from Big Lake (WLFD) that were trained in coldwater rescue,” DeHerrera said, estimating he was in the water for a total of about 50 minutes. “I was controlling my breathing. They finally got me out and I was medivaced to Anchorage. I was totally conscious the whole time.”

After his flight to Providence Alaska Medical Center, DeHerrera said he was on his way home after about two hours.

“My body temperature was at 94 and they didn’t want me to leave, but I was fine,” he said. “I got to keep my skates and my glasses. The only thing I lost was my cell phone. And I’m thinking about cutting a hole in the ice to try and find it.”

DeHerrera said although the phone is ruined, he’s hoping to retrieve the storage card, which has irreplaceable images on it. DeHerrera said after speaking to West Lakes Chief John Fairchild, he may do a public safety video. He said there were a couple of things he wanted to say in sharing his story. First, there’s a good chance of staying alive longer than several minutes after breaking through the ice. The second thing he wished to convey was his thanks.

“Chris tried so hard to get me on the board. I just wanted to thank everyone who helped save me. The (local residents), Providence Hospital and the helicopter folks,” DeHerrera said.

Although temperatures have allowed Big Lake to skim over, anyone venturing out onto any of the Valley’s inland lakes should do so with extreme caution. They should also keep in mind that many of the inland lakes have channels or springs which allow fast current to flow even though the lake surface may appear safe. Officials urge those who decide to embark on the ice to check the thickness. Four inches of solid ice is safe minimum to support the average person.