Ice Rescuers Recognized in Bloomingdale

Several Bloomingdale volunteers who risked their own lives trying to save two men who fell through the ice of Lake Iosco in February were honored by the borough council at its March 26 meeting.

Ultimately, one of the two men who fell in the lake, 52-year-old Frank Ferrell, of Ringwood, died upon arriving at Chilton Hospital after he was submerged in the lake for more than 10 minutes. But more than six volunteers worked together to pull Ferrell and 49-year-old Theodore Andreniuk from the water.

The men were ice fishing at the time, according to Bloomingdale Police Chief Joseph Borell, when a resident of a nearby home called 911 just after noon on Feb. 26 and said a person had fallen through the ice. A second 911 call came in three minutes after the first about Ferrell in the lake. Initially, police believed just one person had fallen through the ice. Police said the men had been ice fishing since about 9 a.m.

Bloomingdale Mayor Jonathan Dunleavy honored the dozens of volunteers, particularly from the Bloomingdale Volunteer Fire Department, at the council meeting, including awarding the Meritorious Service Award to those who helped from the shoreline, according to Suburban Trends.