Possible Lesson from Iron County Drowning

Law enforcement in Iron County hope the public can learn something from the drowning of a Crystal Falls Township man in the Michigamme Reservoir.

65-year-old John Brozak’s body was found shortly before 5pm Central time yesterday in Mansfield Township.

He was in the Way Dam backwaters, several miles north of Phalen’s Landing.

Police set up their base of operation for the search on Phalen Road.

Iron County Sheriff Mark Valesano says this happened because Brozak thought he could tell which ice was safe ice.

The sheriff says Brozak had many years of experience on the reservoir, so he would have been a good candidate to tell that, but it’s often impossible.

Brozak went missing Monday night when he and a friend fell through the ice on their 4-wheelers near Corbett Lake.

There are no roads for at least several miles in any direction.

So after pulling himself out, the friend hiked at least 4 miles to get help while still wearing his frigid, waterlogged clothing.

Sheriff Valesano says the friend had to stop more than once along the way to deal with muscle cramps.

He says considering how remote an area the 2 men were in, it was understandable that it would have taken as long as it did to call for help.

The Delta County Sheriff’s Department dive team and the DNRE helped out in the search.

Brozak’s funeral services will be at 10 Central time Friday morning at Guardian Angels Church in Crystal Falls.