OSHKOSH, Wis. (WFRV) – When vehicles plunge through the ice on Lake Winnebago, one dive and a homemade rig can make a costly recovery possible.
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Don Herman, the owner of SUNK Dive and Ice Service, has been pulling vehicles, ATVs, and even airplanes from the lake for more than four decades. What began in 1980 as neighbors helping neighbors has grown into a busy gig based in Oshkosh.
“I started this in 1980, a couple of vehicles went in, and a couple of buddies of ours went out,” Don said. “It kind of just grew since.”
A typical recovery team includes three to eight people. They first assess the ice thickness, then plan a safe approach to the submerged vehicle. Using homemade equipment, they pull vehicles from the frigid water.
“We’ll take a four-wheeler out there with a portable winch and pull it out,” Don said.
The cost of recovery varies widely, depending on factors such as the depth of the water and whether divers are needed. Don estimates a vehicle can cost anywhere from $3,000 to $12,000 to retrieve.
Over the years, Don’s crew has salvaged everything from semis and dump trucks to beer trucks, helicopters, and airplanes. Despite the variety of recoveries, Don has one enduring message for the public: no ice is completely safe.
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“I always say in the end, no ice is 100% safe. I probably should have patented that because I would have made money off it,” Herman said.
So far this year, 17 vehicles have been retrieved from Lake Winnebago. Last year, nearly 70 vehicles went through the ice.
