A quiet evening at Sodus Point took a dramatic turn when a local resident heard a cry for help from the icy waters near the old lighthouse.
Mark Ketcham was bringing in his bird feeder when he heard what sounded like a yell coming from the lake. Unsure if he was imagining it, he called his neighbor, Werner, who confirmed hearing the same thing. Without hesitation, Ketcham dialed 911, reporting what they had heard and where the sound seemed to be coming from.
As Ketcham remained on the call, an emergency whistle sounded, confirming that first responders were already mobilizing. Deputies and members of the Sodus Point Fire Department arrived quickly, equipped in yellow cold-water rescue suits. The victim—a surfer wearing a wetsuit—was struggling to get back over the ice mounds that had trapped him in the freezing water.
Braving the dangerous terrain, the rescue team ventured onto the unstable ice using ropes for safety. Witnesses saw the surfer briefly resurface, his head covered in ice. The SPFD responders worked swiftly to reach him and bring him back to safety.
Bill and Silver Waters personnel were on hand to warm and assess the surfer after his ordeal.
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