A LaPorte man’s life was saved on Sunday after he fell through the ice on Clear Lake, the Indiana Department of Natural Resources said.

David Rogers was walking across Clear Lake when he stepped onto an area of ice which had not frozen hard, DNR said. Rogers fell through the ice and into approximately eight feet of water.

A witness, however, saw the accident and called 911.

The LaPorte City Fire Department, responding with two engines, immediately deployed a rescue sled, a conveyance allowing personnel to slide over the ice by distributing their weight. Firefighter Brian Gray and Capt. Dave Hucksted, in coldwater suits, maneuvered the sled to the break in the ice, got into the water, and managed to attach a line to Rogers, then pulled him into the sled and to safety, DNR said.

DNR had high praise for the “fast response and superb training” of the LCFD and these safety tips:

•Check the thickness of ice before going onto a new area, as ice is “not the same in all areas on a lake.”

•Use a spud bar or auger to make holes in the ice to check thickness.

•Stay close to other people and let someone know where you are going and when you plan to return.

•Wear a life jacket under your coat or a flotation suit to keep you afloat if you fall through.

•And remember: once you’re in 30-degree water, you lose strength fast. Plan ahead and be prepared for the worst.