Michigan State Police News Release
Today at about 10:30 AM, Alpena Dispatch received a call from a female later identified as 60 year old Lynne Bever of Linwood. Bever reported that she had fallen through the ice while driving her snowmobile on Long Lake and needed help.
Alpena dispatch immediately send first responders to help. An Alpena MSP Trooper who was about 3 miles away heard the call and hurried to the scene.
Upon arriving, he found the victim in the water about 200 yards off shore. Her boyfriend and his snowmobile were nearby and he was attempting to reach her.
The MSP Trooper attempted to cross the thin ice towards Bever, but found it was too weak to hold him. Additional first responders from Alpena Twp Fire and MSP donned anti-exposure suits and held onto lifeline ropes and began belly-crawling toward the victim.
As they worked to reach the victim, the victim’s boyfriend, his snowmobile, and two first responders fell through the ice. The responders were able to successfully rescue the male victim.
The responders in the anti-exposure suits were able to reach Bever, but were unable to get her out of the water. Responders tried to render aid while she was in the water, attempting to keep her alive while waiting for further resources and equipment.
East Grand Lake Fire Department arrived with their airboat and were finally able to get Bever out of the water, but rescuers found she had gone into cardiac arrest.
She was removed from the water and taken by ambulance to the Mid-Michigan Medical Center in Alpena, where she was pronounced dead. The Alpena Medical Examiner and doctors from the hospital determined the cause of her death to be drowning.
Dispatch Audio: Listener Discretion Advised.
First responders on the scene included officers from the Michigan State Police, Michigan DNR, Alpena Sheriff’s Office, Alpena Township Fire, Alpena City Fire and Rescue and East Grand Lake Fire.
A woman died today after falling through the ice while driving her snowmobile. Rescuers made heroic efforts to save her, but the ice conditions prevented them from getting her out of the water in time. Please keep her family in your thoughts during this difficult time. pic.twitter.com/qKRhP27uNI
— @MSPNorthernMI (@mspnorthernmi) January 4, 2019