Here's a link
http://wbztv.com/video/?id=60066@wbz.dayport.com. Al,Your one lucky guy.The fact that you guys didnt panic is a lesson to us all.
ROXBURY, Maine – Two members of a New Hampshire family believe it's a miracle that they survived a fall into the ice on their snowmobiles late Friday night.
The Morancy family of Dover, N.H., was traveling from Arrowhead, N.H., to Upton after filling their snowmobiles with gas at approximately 10 p.m. Friday (March 7) when white-out conditions arose on Umbagog Lake, according to Maine Warden Service Sgt. Richard Mills.
"The family is familiar with the area having logged more than 5,000 miles on their snowmobiles this winter," Sgt. Mills said. "But the weather outmatched their expertise."
Albert Morancy, who was celebrating his 46th birthday Friday, was on the lead snowmobile with his 12-year-old daughter, Haley, and his wife, Linda, on separate sleds behind him when the storm kicked up. Believing they were going in the right direction, Mr. Morancy decided to drive parallel to the shoreline in an effort to be safe.
"They ended up in the totally opposite direction," Sgt. Mills said.
What they couldn't see, according to Sgt. Mills, was that they were approaching open water where the Rapid River pours into the Umbagog Lake. Mr. Morancy fell through thin ice and into the water. Haley, noticing that her father had fallen through, sprung from her snowmobile as it broke into the water. She fell in but landed close enough to the ice to easily get out of the water, Sgt. Mills said.
Mrs. Morancy did not go through the ice.
From the ice, Mrs. Morancy and her daughter shouted encouragements to Mr. Morancy to get out. He started to struggle and his family became frantic.
After several minutes, Mr. Morancy turned over onto his back to rest in the water, he told Sgt. Mills. His family, however, believed he was too tired to continue.
"You can just imagine what they were feeling," Sgt. Mills said.
Unwilling to give up, Mrs. Morancy took off her snowsuit and threw one end of it to her husband. Mr. Morancy grabbed hold of it, and Mrs. Morancy and Haley pulled him out of the water.
"He was extremely lucky that he got out," Sgt. Mills said. "It's a miracle. Just talking to him you can tell that Mr. Morancy appreciates that he survived because of a miracle."
With two people experiencing hypothermic symptoms, the family got onboard Mrs. Morancy's snowmobile and started out in search of help. They traveled eight miles before they saw lights on at a camp owned by Marie and Ray Chabot on Carey Road in Roxbury.
The Chabots brought the three family members into their home, gave them dry clothes, warm food and offered them a place to sleep. They called the Maine Warden Service at approximately 11:30 p.m. to report the snowmobile accident, informing Sgt. Mills that the family went through the ice, was able to get out and not in need of medical assistance.
"The Chabots told me that the Morancys would be spending the night and that they were feeling better," Sgt. Mills said.
Sgt. Mills said he was able to locate the Morancys' snowmobile tracks at approximately 5 a.m. and saw where the sleds went into the water.
"Mr. Morancy's helmet was still floating on top of the water," Sgt. Mills said.
Arrangements are being made to get the two snowmobiles out of the water.
The Maine Warden Service is warning people to be aware that ice is thinning on Maine's lakes and ponds. Contributing to the thinning is runoff from melting snow, this weekend's heavy rains and warmer temperatures.
Wardens are reminding snowmobilers to not drive near outlets because of open water there, to use caution in inlets and coves because of melting ice, and to ride at a reasonable speed in order to have ample time to stop if they come upon a hole in the ice.
Posted by Tom Remington
albert morancy haley morancy, carey road, linda morancy, Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, Maine Wardens Service, marie chabot, ray chabot, roxbury, snowmobile accident, snowmobiling, thin ice, umbagog lake sgt. richard mills
Posted on 10th March 2008
Under: ATV Riding, Search and Rescue, Snowmobiling | No Comments »
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It shows why not panicing and staying calm in tuff times is a good way to be!!Again glad your all safe and see you in the spring!!
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