Before heading to that frozen lake to icefish or skate during winter break, one Alaska man says everyone should know how to get themselves out of the water if they fall through. He shared a chilly demonstration by jumping on a thin patch of ice himself.
TikToker and professional fisherman The Reel Alaska (@the_reel_alaska) stands on a frozen lake at night in a video with over 3.9 million views.
He jumps high and crashes through the thin ice, ending up in chest-deep, freezing-cold water.
What To Do After Falling Through Ice
“All right, this is OK. Stay calm,” he says. “I’m going to try to back myself up on the ice.”
He spreads his arms wide and scoots backward towards the solid ice.
“The key is to keep yourself flat,” he explains. By spreading out his weight, he doesn’t put as much pressure on any one patch of ice, preventing it from breaking further.
He flips over and scoots on his belly until he is fully out of the water. Then, he offers some little-known advice.
“Don’t get up. It’s not worth it,” he continues. “Now, I wanna roll myself to shore.” By rolling, he stays flat and doesn’t risk falling into the water again.
How Dangerous Is Falling Through Ice?
According to a 2020 study by York University in Canada, deaths from falling through ice are becoming more common as average temperatures rise. In some of the countries featured in the study, falling through ice accounted for 15 to 50% of total drowning deaths.
Typically, falling through ice isn’t the direct cause of death in these incidents. Instead, victims may struggle to get out of the water, eventually drowning or experiencing hypothermia.
That’s why the TikToker insists on the importance of being able to get out of icy water independently and quickly.
How Did Viewers React To His Advice?
In the comments, some viewers shared tragic personal stories that emphasize the importance of learning how to get out of the water after falling through ice.
“So many people are making jokes, but this is literally life-saving advice. My brother died cuz he fell though and couldn’t get out,” one wrote.
Another said, “My dad’s friend lost a child due to them falling through the ice. It’s horrible, and more people should learn this.”
“Lost a family friend who went ice fishing alone and fell through,” a third shared.
Others said they were surprised by some of the TikToker’s advice.
“I NEVER would have thought to roll!” a commenter exclaimed.
“This is actually so dangerous even as a tutorial. Thank you for informing because I truly had no idea,” a second wrote.
@the_reel_alaska How to get out of ice, it was hard to talk cause I could barely breathe from the shock. #fishing #icefishing #iceskating #christmas
BroBible reached out to The Reel Alaska via email for further comment.