News Photo by Julie Riddle Firefighters and paramedics are trained in the use of the”banana boat,” a new piece of ice rescue equipment purchased recently for use in Alpena County.

ALPENA — A devastating loss last January motivated a new purchase meant to save lives on the lakes of Northeast Michigan.

When a snowmobiler fell through the ice on Long Lake last Jan. 4, responders were unable to save the rider, despite great effort.

“Myself and the other 25 volunteers that were on shore that day felt pretty helpless, not having the proper equipment to save that woman’s life,” said Sgt. J.P. Ritter, of the Alpena County Sheriff’s Office.

Ritter spearheaded the effort to raise money for a new, inflatable ice rescue boat, which was introduced in a training session in late December to the firefighters at Alpena Township’s North Side station.

The boat can be inflated and ready to use in seconds. Openings at each end allow rescuers to carry the inflated boat across frozen water without fear of plunging through broken ice.

The openings also allow rescuers to maneuver the boat’s open end over the victim without driving the victim underwater and they allow easy entry points for sliding the victim into the boat’s bottom.

Deflated, the boat will be stored in a 2-foot cube onboard a North Side rescue vehicle.

The boat, dubbed “the banana boat” for its distinctive curved shape and bright color, will be used at future trainings and, when needed, in rescue scenarios within the county.

After last year’s incident, Ritter began pursuing grants to purchase the boat, securing the $5,000 needed largely from local foundations.

Ritter hopes to raise another $5,000 to purchase a second boat to be kept at a more central location, to increase responders’ chances of saving lives in icy winter waters.

Julie Riddle can be reached at 989-358-5693, jriddle@thealpenanews.com or on Twitter @jriddleX.