Man safe after breaking through Mendenhall Lake

Man safe after breaking through Mendenhall Lake

‘Good citizen’ provides rescue

Juneau resident Bob Funk was riding his bike on frozen Mendenhall Lake Sunday, and next thing he knew, he broke through the ice and was submerged in icy water.

Luckily, a good Samaritan was on scene — an ice skater with a throw rope — who helped rescue him and “very probably helped save my life,” Funk said.

In an interview with the Empire on Moday, Funk said that he was racing near the face of the glacier when he broke through thin ice. He was with his 9-year-old grandson and a friend, also on bikes, at the time, enjoying a cold snap along with dozens of other skaters, hockey players, hikers and bikers.

“I think I got overconfident and was going too fast and not paying attention to what was in front of me,” he said, adding he didn’t realize he was on thin ice until it was too late.

Capital City Fire/Rescue Assistant Chief Chad Cameron said CCFR received an emergency call about the incident just after 2 p.m. After the good citizen thew a rope in to aid Funk out of the frigid glacier water, Funk made his way back to shore by bike.

“We were told the person was riding a bike coming on in and was very cold,” Cameron said. “So we waited at the shore until they got there and got them in a warm ambulance and got some of their wet clothing off. They chose not to go to Bartlett Regional Hospital, so once we got them warm, they were released.”

CCFR responded to a similar incident of a dog falling through the Mendenhall ice a few days earlier, Cameron said. Crews were quickly called off when the dog escaped the water on its own.

Cameron said Mendenhall Lake’s ice thickness is variable but ice near the glacier’s face and Nugget Falls always merit extra caution.

“There’s hidden dangers out there all the time,” he said.


• Contact reporter Nolin Ainsworth at 523-2272 or nainsworth@juneauempire.com.


People on Mendenhall Lake on Monday, Jan. 7, 2019. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

People on Mendenhall Lake on Monday, Jan. 7, 2019. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

The Mendenhall Glacier. (Juneau Empire file)

The Mendenhall Glacier. (Juneau Empire file)

More in News

The Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Encore docks in Juneau in October, 2022. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)
Ships in Port for the Week of June 4

Here’s what to expect this week.

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)
Police calls for Monday, June 5, 2023

This report contains information from law enforcement and public safety agencies.

Water and wastewater rates in the City and Borough of Juneau will increase 2% starting July 1. (Clarise Larson/ Juneau Empire File)
Water, wastewater rates to increase starting July 1

The 2% increase is to match inflationary costs, city says.

A progress pride flag flies in the wind below an U.S. flag outside of the Hurff Ackerman Saunders Federal Building on Monday evening. Last week the flag was raised for the first time by members of the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration and will remain up through the month of June. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
LGBTQ+ pride flag raised at federal building sparks backlash, support

Varying reactions to the flag that was raised for the first time outside the building.

Cars and people move past the City and Borough of Juneau current City Hall downtown on Monday. The Assembly Committee of the Whole unanimously OK’d an ordinance Monday night that, if passed by the full Assembly, would again ask Juneau voters during the upcoming municipal election whether to approve $27 million in bond debt to fund the construction of a new City Hall. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
Voters could see proposal for a new City Hall back on the ballot this fall

City signals support for $27 million initiative, after $35M bond last year fails.

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)
Police calls for Sunday, June 4, 2023

This report contains information from law enforcement and public safety agencies.

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)
Police calls for Saturday, June 3, 2023

This report contains information from law enforcement and public safety agencies.

Courtesy Photo / Chris Blake
The <strong>Hōkūleʻa</strong>, a double-hulled and wind-powered traditional Polynesian voyaging canoe, navigates throughout Southeast Alaska in May. On Saturday the canoe and crew members will be welcomed to Juneau in preparation for the canoes launch days later for its four-year-long global canoe voyage called the <strong>Moananuiākea</strong>.
Celebration of four-year Polynesian canoe voyage to kick off Saturday at Auke Bay

Voyage set to circumnavigate 43,000 nautical miles of the Pacific Ocean beginning in Juneau.

Most Read