From duck hunt to emergency: The rescue that saved a life at Eleven Mile Reservoir

PARK COUNTY, Colo. (KRDO) -- What started as a weekend duck hunt nearly turned fatal at Eleven Mile Reservoir, until a stranger’s quick thinking saved a man’s life.

Matthew Carroll says he was duck hunting Saturday when he ventured onto thinning ice near an open hole on the lake, an area packed with ducks late in the season. He brought a kayak with him, hoping to retrieve birds— something he had done in years past— but says conditions had changed.

As Carroll approached the open water, the ice began to crack. He says he fell into the freezing lake and struggled to stay afloat as his waders filled with water, weighing him down.

“I was in the water for about fifteen minutes,” Carroll said. “My waders filled up, the weight became unbearable, and I was completely exhausted from trying to survive. My head started sinking under the water — and in that moment, I truly thought I was going to lose my life.”

By chance, an ice fishing tournament was happening nearby, bringing people to a lake that would have otherwise been nearly empty.

That’s when David Jimenez from Pueblo heard the screams of Matt's friend.

“I would want someone to help me if I were in that situation,” Jimenez said. "I was in the right place at the right time." 

Jimenez rushed toward Carroll and was able to pull him from the icy water, risking his own safety in the process. First responders later transported Carroll to the Woodland Park ER, where doctors worked to bring his core temperature back up as he was going hypothermic.

"I want to thank David and his son for their courage, and the lord for having his hand upon me that day," said Carroll. 

Stay up to date with the latest local news, sports, and investigations by downloading the KRDO13 app. Click here to download it from the Apple App Store. Android users can download it from Google Play here.