Unsafe ice claims life of snowmobile rider in Dudley

Dudley firefighters stand by at the dock
to receive one of the victims.

Date: January 21, 2012 17:25 hrs.

Location: NewPond, Off Hillcrest Road, Dudley

Particulars: One man died and two others were injured when the snowmobile they were riding crashed through thin ice on New Pond in Dudley Saturday night. New Pond is located off Hillcrest Road, near Hayden Pond.

At approximately 5:25 PM, Dudley Fire Alarm received a 911 call reporting that a snowmobile had crashed through the ice on New Pond, and there were three people in the water in need of rescue. On duty Paramedics Brian Ceccarelli and Scott Benoit responded with the ambulance as fire/rescue crews responded to the station to get much needed water rescue equipment to the scene. While enroute to the scene, Paramedic Ceccarelli requested Dudley Fire Alarm notify the Webster Rescue Squad to respond to the scene to assist with their Hovercraft.

As the ambulance arrived on scene, they found out that one of the victims, Wayne Montigny of Killingly CT, had extricated himself from the icy waters and had gotten to shore where a neighbor had taken him in and began warming him. Two others remained in the waters about 225-feet off shore, with only one man being visible.

Firefighters arrived minutes later equipped in cold-weather ice rescue suits and immediately deployed two rescuers onto the unsafe ice. Both were tethered to shore by ropes that were controlled by other firefighters. The second victim, Jeffrey Lougie of Dudley, was able to get out of the first hole in the ice with the assistance of a bystander, but as he made his way to shore, he fell through a second time. Rescuers assisted him out of the hole and escorted him the remainder of his trip to shore. He was placed in an ambulance and treated for hypothermia.

While this was being accomplished, Dudley Fire Lieutenant George Patrinos, who was one of the original rescuers, made his way out to where the last victim, Richard Redfield of Southbridge, was last seen. He began searching the murky water as additional rescuers arrived from the Webster Rescue Squad in their Hovercraft. Illuminating the area with the lights from the watercraft, Rescue Squad member Joel Grzyb noticed a light-reflective material below the surface of the water. What he saw was the reflective decals on Redfield’s snowmobile helmet. Within minutes of entering the water, rescuers were able to locate the unconscious man and removed him to the waiting hovercraft for a quick trip to shore. The hovercraft encountered mechanical problems and was unable to make it back. The victim was quickly transferred to a Stokes basket stretcher, which was pulled back to shore by rope.

Paramedics immediately whisked Mr. Redfield to a waiting ambulance for treatment and transport to Harrington Healthcare at Hubbard, where after several hours of treatment, he unfortunately succumbed to his injuries.

Of the other two victims, Mr. Lougie was transported to UMASS Hospital – University Campus for further treatment and Mr. Montigny refused medical attention.

The incident is being investigated by the District Attorney’s Office, the Massachusetts Environmental Police, and the Dudley Police Department. Dudley firefighters were assisted at the scene by the Webster Rescue Squad and a Charlton Fire Department ambulance. Divers from the Fire District 7 Dive Team and the Douglas Dive Team were activated, but their services were not utilized at the scene.

Dudley firefighter Mike Bonnette, Lt. George Patrinos (center),
and Webster Rescue Lt. Mike Annese stand down after
the last victim was pulled from the water.

Dudley firefighter Joe Marcinkus helps get Lt. Patrinos
out of his cold water rescue suit.