First Responders mill around after a young boy was pulled from a pond Friday night, Nov. 15. InkFreeNews photo by Dan Spalding.

WARSAW — One of two youths who fell through thin ice in a retention pond east of Winona Lake Friday night was pulled out by police, according to a news release from Indiana State Police.

State Trooper Jacob Bill

According to police, State Trooper Jacob Bill, who was off duty, but driving a marked vehicle, was near the intersection of County Road 325 East and Wooster Road shortly before 6 p.m. when he saw an officer with the Winona Lake Police Department drive through the intersection with his lights and siren on. Bill followed to see if he could help the officer.

Police were directed to a pond at the northeast corner of CR 325 and Wooster Road where they were told a child was seen approximately 25 yards out in the water and had apparently fallen through the thin ice.

According to police, Bill ran into the water and swam out to the child. Bill was able to grab him by the collar and attempted to get him to shore. As Bill got closer to shore he got caught up in the broken ice so Winona Lake Officer Dave Swain entered the water to help Bill and the child. Winona Lake Police Officer Sgt. Joe Bumbaugh was then able to help from shore and get all three out of the water.

Once out of the water, the child was taken to a truck to warm up and was then taken by ambulance to a local hospital.

The 11-year-old boy, who was not identified, was treated and released from the hospital. Another child who had also been playing on the ice was able to get out of the water on his own prior to officers arriving.

Trooper Bill added, “I was just glad that I was in the right place at the right time.”