Firefighters Rescue Snowmobiler Who Fell Through

Frozen Stream

Fire Chief Credits Cell Phone With Saving Man's Life In Pittston

POSTED: 7:34 pm EST February 24, 2009
UPDATED: 9:03 pm EST February 24, 2009


PITTSTON, Maine -- Firefighters pulled a man to safety Tuesday afternoon after his snowmobile broke through the ice on Stony Meadow Brook in Pittston.

Roger Mackbach, 35, of Westport Island was in the water for about a half hour, said Pittson Fire Chief Jason Farris. Gardiner Rescue took him to MaineGeneral Medical Center for treatment of mild hypothermia.

Mackbach was riding upstream alone on his Arctic Cat snowmobile when he made a U-turn. It went on a slushy part of the frozen brook and then the back of the snowmobile broke through the ice.

He fell into 4 feet of water, the Maine Warden Service said. Mackbach has one arm and was able to stand on the muddy stream bottom to call for help on his cell phone.

"That cell phone saved his life. There's no doubt in my mind," Farris said.

Pittston firefighters responded to the 4:40 p.m. Tuesday call for help and secured ropes to the Mackbach and the snowmobile. A pair of Gardiner firefighters in cold water suits helped bring him to the shore after relaying him on a couple rescue sleds.

The accident scene was about a mile off Pinkham Road, so Pittston and Gardiner emergency responders walked with their gear through piles of new snow.

Farris said although the rear of the snowmobile had gone through the ice, the engine was not damaged. After pulling it out of the water, firefighters drove the snowmobile back to the man's home.

You just gotta know where you are sometimes.