ALCONA COUNTY, Mich. – A Michigan man was hospitalized after he fell into the AuSable River in Alcona County earlier this week.
On Tuesday, March 25, a 59-year-old Caro man was fishing on a 10-foot boat and fell into the river as he was trying to get off the boat.
At around 2:16 p.m., the man texted 911 using his watch to report that he had fallen, and said he was having difficulty breathing. Officials later learned that the 59-year-old had open-heart surgery two years ago and hadn’t been feeling well recently.
Additionally, at the time the man fell into the river, the water was 39 degrees Fahrenheit, and the air temperature was 32 degrees.
DNR Conservation Officers Jeff Panich and Casey Pullum heard radio communication about the incident and responded to the Snowmobile Trail LP96 and the Shore to Shore Horse Trail intersection at around 3:12 p.m.
They were able to determine the location based on the last known GPS coordinates from Caro man’s watch.
When the conservation officers arrived, they found footprints in the snow and spotted a dog on the horse trail.
After that, they found the man, who “was standing with blood covering his legs and feet,” according to the DNR. They also said the man was missing some clothes.
As they approached, the man allegedly said, “Help me” and collapsed into Panich.
The man became unresponsive as they waited for EMS, and the conservation officers pulled him out of the woods and into a river access parking lot at 4001 Bridge Landing, located off Federal Route 4001.
EMS arrived, and the man was taken to the hospital.
His two dogs were also rescued, and officials say they’ll be returned to the man once he is home from the hospital. His boat wasn’t recovered.
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