Deputy, firefighter praised for saving Crothersville man’s life

Indiana conservation officers are praising a Washington County deputy and firefighter who saved a Crothersville man who fell through the ice last week.

According to conservation officers with the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, 76-year-old Jasper Combs of Crothersville was about 100 yards from the shore when he fell through the ice on Elk Creek Lake in Washington County at about 4 p.m. Wednesday afternoon.

Other anglers had called 911 for assistance, and Washington County Sheriff’s Department Sergeant Matt Hein and Gibson Township Fire Department Captain Andrew Mull arrived on the scene. They ran nearly a half mile around the lake to reach Combs. Conservation officers say by that time he had been clinging to the ice for nearly 45 minutes and was losing strength.

The two rescuers went out on the ice, threw a rope to Combs and dragged him to safety. They then carried him back around the lake to a waiting ambulance.

Conservation officers say that there is no doubt that the rescue workers saved Combs life.