Walk on frozen Great Lake goes horribly wrong

Brian Lemieux was only able to take one photo of the sunrise at the Grand Haven pier on Saturday before he fell through the ice over Lake Michigan/Photo: Brian Lemieux

Brian Lemieux walked out onto a frozen Lake Michigan in Grand Haven, Mich. to get photos of the sunrise.

He snapped one photo of the Grand Haven pier, then fell through the ice into the freezing water.

"Before I knew it I was in the water," Lemieux told WOOD-TV. "No warning. That quick."

Thrill seekers walk on frozen Lake Michigan/Photo: Jacki Scheider

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Lemieux was among three people who briefly walked on the frozen waters of the lake before plunging through the ice over the weekend.

Lemieux said he carefully followed the tracks of the other thrill seekers, but ended up treading water anyway.

“Thankfully, I had my tripod, which was nice and sturdy and I think that caught on the hole, so I was able to find the hole fairly easily and get myself out,” Lemieux said.

Dozens more people ventured onto the frozen lake Monday, despite warnings from police to stay away.

"We just wanted to get some pictures. I never seen it. I’m originally from Nashville, so I've never seen frozen water like that before especially on Lake Michigan," beachgoer Amber Gredeius told the TV station.

Gredeius said she saw "a lot of cracks in the ice" and headed for dry ground when the ice started "making some noises."

"There’s still going to be … cracks and fissures and some weak ice just from the different currents and turbulence of the water," Grand Have police Sgt. Christopher Wright explained.

The Bremmer family enjoys exploring the frozen surface of Lake Michigan/Photo: Grand Haven Tribune

"I grew up here and I’ve never seen it like this," said Adam Walendzik as he and his wife, Kathleen, pushed their son, C.J., across the ice in his stroller.

"It blows my mind walking out here where I surf," Walendzik told the Grand Haven Tribune.

Randy and Tracy Bremmer of Grand Haven tagged along beyond the pier heads as their triplets – Natalie, Daniel and Anna – clambered over ice formations.

Randy said it’s been five years since they checked out the icebergs on Lake Michigan.

"It's amazing how many people are out here," he said.

"We came because of all of the people who have posted on Facebook on it," said Anne Moore.

"It's a natural wonder," said Tami Kirn.

The women agreed it was a little crazy.

So far, everyone who has fallen through the ice at Grand Haven has been pulled to safety by police or bystanders.