South Haven officials warn visitors about falling through ice during Arctic blast

This weekend, residents in South Haven have more to worry about than just the frigid wind chills.

Emergency officials want to keep visitors away from Lake Michigan, and a potentially fatal water rescue.

Even through single-digit temperatures, the city remained a destination spot Saturday.

Cars filled South Beach, with visitors bringing cameras and trekking across the frozen sand for a view of the water.

It’s a sight residents and visitors say is unique to downstate.

"When there's no wind and you have all this beautiful snow, especially fresh snow, it's quite peaceful and it's just beautiful," South Haven resident Judy Pollack said.

"Just kind of cruising up the coast and trying to get as many pictures as we can," visitor Nick Sandoval said.

Others walked out to catch a glimpse of an iconic West Michigan landmark, the South Haven lighthouse rimmed with ice.

The only problem: the pier is closed due to dangerous conditions.

Brian Montgomery with South Haven Area Emergency Services says it’s easier than it looks to fall through what appears to be packed snow.

"As these snow hills build up on the lake, there's still moving water underneath them," he said. "They can create void spaces on those snow hills. So as you're climbing on them, you think they're solid, but they're not."

He says no one should be out on the water after all this snowfall, especially with more expected Sunday.

This weekend, his crew was called after someone walked behind one of the mounds of snow, and their partner thought they had fallen into the water.

Montgomery says your dexterity will drop fast in freezing water, making it difficult to even move to get to shore.

"If you do fall through, the hyperventilation will kick in," he said. "That lasts about 90 seconds."

If you are with someone who falls into water in these temperatures, he advises remembering the phrase ‘throw before you go.’

That means tossing something in the water for someone to hold onto, before going in yourself and potentially creating two victims.

He says there are better ways to see the lake at peak wintertime.

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