Bend river rescue underscores warning: Stay off the ice

One of three people who ventured onto the thin ice on the Deschutes River near Bend’s Old Mill District on Saturday fell through into the icy water. The person was able to get out of the water and was rescued by firefighters, prompting fire officials’ renewed plea Sunday that people stay off the ice as temperatures warm and the danger rises.

Bend firefighters were called out just before 3 p.m. Saturday to the report of someone who had fallen through the ice on the river between the Old Mill District and the Les Schwab Amphitheater, said Bend Fire Inspector Steve Stenkamp.

Arriving crews found a person had fallen through the ice but had managed to pull themselves from the water and was sitting on the unstable ice shelf, Stenkamp said.

A firefighter in a “dry suit” crawled out onto the ice to secure the victim and return them to shore, Stenkamp said, adding that the victim’s name and personal information is withheld due to federal patient privacy laws.

The victim was among a party of three who ventured out onto the ice, the official said.

“Bend Fire in the past has reminded the public of the dangers of iced-over bodies of water, but would like to ask the community to look out for those who may be unaware of the dangers,” Stenkamp wrote in a news release.

“Rivers are particularly dangerous, as currents can pull victims underneath the ice and make recovery difficult,” he added.

Bend police provided support at the scene, Stenkamp added.