Crews come together to pull woman from water

Many people — including her husband, neighbors and emergency workers — came together to rescue a Mitchell woman who fell through ice on her property Wednesday afternoon.

Lynda Robideau fell through the ice on a large pond east of her home, just outside Mitchell, while attempting to rescue the family’s two Labrador retrievers. The call went out for help and rescue units arrived at 5:35 p.m.

Davison County Deputy Steve Harr said rescuers found Mrs. Robideau ice-bound and clinging to toy flotation devices about 60 feet from shore.

“She was yelling to her husband to help her,” said Harr.

Duane Robideau was soaked and shivering after breaking through the ice in several unsuccessful attempts to rescue his wife with a rope. Rescuers weren’t certain who got the flotation toys to Mrs. Robideau.

Mitchell firefighter Doug Glover also failed to reach the stranded victim with a rescue rope.

“Doug went through the ice and was completely submerged,” said Capt. Paul Morris, of Mitchell Fire and Rescue.

Duane Robideau was ushered to a waiting ambulance to ward off hypothermia.

“It was Swiss cheese,” said Morris, describing ice that varied from 1 to 3 inches in thickness.

Rescuers quickly put out a call for a boat. Nearby residents Dennis Ellwein and Scott Suelflow responded with a flat-bottomed duck boat around 6 p.m.

Firefighter paramedics Steve Nedved and Rob Parker donned dry diving suits, climbed into the craft and pushed off as other rescuers paid out line attached to the boat.

“Steve had full scuba gear on in case she went into the water and we had another diver standing by,” said Parker.

The boat easily broke through the lighter ice close to shore, but rescuers had to muscle it atop the thicker ice. Once the boat got on top of the ice, the rescuers used the oars to scoot it along, said Parker.

Nedved and Parker managed to pull up next to Mrs. Robideau and pulled her into the boat. Shore crews then hauled all to safety.

Husband and wife were transported to Avera Queen of Peace Hospital, only two miles distant. Their condition was not known late Wednesday evening.

Both dogs managed to get off the ice before rescuers arrived, said Harr.

Tags: news, rescue, ice, pond