A 23-year-old UW-Oshkosh student fell through the ice while attempting to walk across the Fox River on Feb. 3, but was able to get himself out of the water and was uninjured.
Freshman San Jang, an international student from South Korea, said he thought that it would be fine to walk on the ice because he saw people fishing on Lake Winnebago.
“It was a great experience because I could reconsider my life,” Jang said. “My attitude (towards) life was reckless. I realize that the life of a human is like an ant.”
At 8:10 p.m. Jang, as well as a witness in the area, called the Winnebago County 911 Communication Center to ask for medical assistance near Ohio Street because he was “cold and wet” after falling through the ice.
Law enforcement and first responders arrived at the scene and the student did not have any life-threatening injuries.
According to an email from UWO Environmental Health and Safety Specialist Danielle Juan, Jang was walking back from a parking lot across the river and decided to take a shortcut across the ice instead of using the bridge.
Juan said that although the student was able to get out of the water safely after leaving their backpack behind, the outcome could have been a lot worse.
“As winter conditions change quickly and ice thickness varies, crossing the river is extremely dangerous and should never be attempted, even if it looks frozen,” Juan said. “Please help keep yourself and others safe by: staying on designated, well‑lit pathways, avoiding shortcuts across the river or other unsafe areas, watching for posted safety signs [and] reporting hazards when you see them.”
The Winnebago County Sheriff’s Office said in a press release that any ice can be dangerous.
“We would like to take this opportunity to remind everyone that no ice is 100% safe,” the release said. “This is particularly true in areas with a current, such as the Fox River.”
Juan said that students should download the UWO Mobile App for their safety.
“[The app] includes a Blue Light feature that allows you to call the UW-Oshkosh Police Department directly from your phone,” Juan said. “It’s a fast, reliable way to get help anytime you feel unsafe or need assistance on campus.”
Jang, whose shirt froze to him when he was in the water for around a minute, said he was not scared when he broke through the ice.
“I felt nothing but the desire to survive,” Jang said. “First of all, never underestimate the river, because it’s flowing water.”
