IDAHO FALLS — It’s a photo that’s been shared around the world this week — the image of a heroic Idaho Falls firefighter rescuing a dog who had fallen into the frigid waters of Gem Lake.
Firefighter/paramedic Dan Muhlestein was at the fire station when a call came in Friday, Dec. 18, that a dog had fallen through ice.
“We immediately got in the ambulance and left, Muhlestein said. “My partner drove and I got ready as we went down here.”
Marilyn Sage had been walking her six-year-old Rottweiler, Roxy, near the lake when Sage says the dog darted on to the frozen lake.
Moments later the ice shattered and Roxy fell into the bone-chilling water.
“I thought for sure she was gonna die out there and I couldn’t save her,” Sage said. “I knew that I couldn’t get out there so as soon as I saw her in the icy water, I called 911.”
Several firefighters arrived and Muhlestein slowly made his way out to the dog who was about 20 yards from the shore.
“He got a hold of my dog and the collar came off,” Sage said. “I’m like, ‘Oh my gosh’ and then he fell in the water and I’m like, ‘Oh my gosh.'”
Roxy had been in the water almost 45 minutes by the time Muhlestein got to her. Because of her weight, he ended up getting into the lake with the dog.
“She’s over a 100 pound dog and I’m 200 pounds so our weight combined was just too much for the ice to support,” Muhlestein said.
Muhlestein said he was able to get the dog out of the water in about three minutes and she made her way safely to shore.
Sage said Roxy has slept a lot since she fell in the water but is getting better and back to her energetic self. She can’t say enough about the man who saved her precious pup.
“I love him. I was so grateful. I was just so grateful when I saw them,” Sage said.
Muhlestein said he was just doing his job and was happy to help.
“I’m trained to help and that’s all I want to do is help,” Muhlestein says.
The post Idaho Falls firefighter who saved dog from frigid lake: ‘I just wanted to help’ appeared first on East Idaho News.