Catie Dahl didn’t hesitate when she saw a pickup truck breaking through the ice on Cottonwood Lake.
Dahl, a Cottonwood resident and mother of four, rushed to help, crawling onto the fragile ice to reach the driver. This week, her bravery was recognized as the Lyon County Sheriff’s Office and Cottonwood Fire and Ambulance honored her with a life-saving award.
Sheriff Eric Wallen praised Dahl’s “quick, selfless actions” in a statement, crediting her with preventing a tragedy on January 20.
A Desperate Moment on the Ice
The driver, 68-year-old Mike Kurtenbach of Cottonwood, had plunged into the freezing water alongside his small dog, Millie. From her home, Dahl saw the sinking truck and acted immediately.
“I just wanted him to know somebody was coming,” she recalled.
After telling her children to stay safe, Dahl crawled across the ice toward Kurtenbach, unsure of its thickness. She found only his head and hands above the surface.
“He said, ‘Help my dog,’” she recounted. Dahl freed Millie from the ice before grabbing hold of Kurtenbach. Though uncertain if she could pull him out, she held onto him until Cottonwood Fire and Ambulance crews arrived with ropes and a sled.
Kurtenbach was transported to Avera Marshall Medical Center, while Millie received care at Lakeside Companion Animal Clinic. Both have since recovered.
Seconds Mattered in Freezing Conditions
Sheriff Wallen emphasized the urgency of the rescue, noting that temperatures were around -10°F that day.
“It was really cold, and time was of the essence,” Wallen said. “Without Dahl holding onto him and keeping him engaged, he might not have had the strength to hold on until rescuers arrived.”
For Dahl, receiving the life-saving award felt surreal.
“I don’t know that I did anything special,” she said. “I’m just so thankful I was there.”
Ice Safety Concerns Persist
This was the second time a vehicle had fallen through the ice on Cottonwood Lake this winter. Due to unstable ice conditions, the Lyon County Sheriff’s Office closed the lake to vehicle traffic on January 22.
Dahl’s quick thinking may have made the difference between life and death, turning an ordinary day into an extraordinary act of heroism.
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