SALEM — Three Washington County first responders were honored with a Certificate of Meritorious Service by the Indiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Law Enforcement Division for saving a man who had fallen through the ice at Elk Creek Lake in January.
The recipients are Washington County Sheriff’s Department Sgt. Matt Hein and Deputy Seth Goode, along with Gibson Township Volunteer Fire Department Captain Andrew Mull.
The incident occurred when 76-year-old Jasper Combs fell through the ice while fishing. After a fellow fisherman’s rescue attempt was unsuccessful, Combs was left clinging to the ice for approximately 45 minutes until emergency services arrived.
Sgt. Hein, Deputy Goode, and Capt. Mull ran nearly half a mile through the woods to reach Combs. Hein and Mull were able to throw a rope and pull him back onto the ice and to the shore, where they began rendering aid. The three then helped carry Combs back to a waiting ambulance.
Sheriff Brent Miller praised the effort as a “great team effort between all of the responding members of emergency services.” He also acknowledged Mr. Combs as a “true survivor” for his ability to cling to the ice for such a long period.
The sheriff’s office concluded its statement with a special thank you to the three men “for doing what you do every day to protect and serve the citizens of Washington County.”
