Christmas Tragedy: Illinois Teenager Dies in Ice Fishing Accident
- Posted on December 23, 2010 at 11:09pm by
Meredith Jessup
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An Illinois teenagers’ life was cut short this week after he and his father fell through into an icy pond while fishing Tuesday evening. Though Frank Hallor escaped the frigid water with his life, his 15-year-old son, Michael, died after being trapped under the ice for more than 90 minutes before volunteer rescue divers could reach him.
The father-son pair had been fishing at the Banner Marsh State Fish & Wildlife Area near Glasford, Ill., when the tragic accident happened Wednesday, just days before Christmas.
The father and son had finished fishing and were walking back toward their vehicle near an entrance just off U.S. Route 24 in the Peoria County portion of the park when the ice beneath the elder Hallor gave way. The father was pulling himself to safety when the boy crashed through the ice.
Several other fishermen in the area rushed to help the pair, and Frank Hallor eventually helped his son out of the water. The father was instructing him to crawl toward the shore when the ice broke again, and the boy sank out of sight. …
The Copperas Creek Dive Team says Michael’s father was lucky to be alive after a hunter and other fishermen helped pull him from the water. But his miraculous survival likely provides little solace after losing his son whose body was recovered 15 feet beneath the water’s surface.
According to local news reports, Michael was revived after being submerged for 90 minutes in the frigid lake water Tuesday, but died early Wednesday, more than 12 hours after arriving at the hospital in an emergency helicopter.
“The terrain we had to go to to get to the initial area where they were and they [got] the father out on the ice, it can get thinner as you go out,” dive team member Kenny Phipps told local NBC affiliate WEEK.
According to Michael’s obituary, his younger brother, Seth, considered him to be “the greatest big brother.“ The Canton High School freshman is also described as an ”avid” St. Louis baseball fan.
Jeff McClure, one of the bystanders who helped pull Mr. Hallor to safety, says the man was hysteric, crying for help for his son. “I didn’t know what to think about that — I was the last one to see him, see [Michael's] head go under,” McClure recalls. “It’s Christmas and a 15-year-old kid just lost his life… It‘s sad and it’s Christmas. A mother is without her son and a father is without his son.”
“I’m glad the dad made it out, but I wouldn’t want to live through what he has to now,” McClure says.
“He was a very quiet person, a good kid,” Maxine Welker, Michael’s grandmother, told the PJ Star.
“God must need a very special angel,” his obituary says, “so He called Michael home.”
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Bronco II
Posted on December 26, 2010 at 10:12amMuch heart felt prayers to the family.I believe when babies and young people die early it is GODS way of saying THEY WERE TO GOOD FOR THIS WORLD it doesn’t make it easier but I always try to look for the good it these tragedies.Rest in peace in the FATHERS ARMS.
Report Post »FoxholeAtheist
Posted on December 25, 2010 at 1:51amSo what‘s god’s excuse this time? Was he just trying to teach someone a lesson on the beauty of life or maybe he was punishing someone for something his great-grandfather did?
Report Post »Bronco II
Posted on December 26, 2010 at 10:14amGOD does not punish anyone you don’t want to go there because if you do he will dump the whole load on you accidents happen that is exactly what this was a sad accident.
Report Post »Center right
Posted on December 24, 2010 at 3:40amThis is so sad. God bless this young man, and many prayers should go out to the family. it is always sad for things like this to happen. The father was doing right by taking his son fishing.
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Center right
Posted on December 24, 2010 at 3:41amhttp://tbladel.wordpress.com/
Report Post »SilentReader
Posted on December 24, 2010 at 3:18amHow tragic. My condolences goes out to Michael’s dad, family and friends. RIP Michael.
Report Post »walkwithme1966
Posted on December 24, 2010 at 12:51amParents should never has to live through the death of a child. God be with that family!
Report Post »dontbotherme
Posted on December 24, 2010 at 12:37amI am so sorry for this family’s loss…Especially the Father. God have mercy on them all.
Report Post »WealthyHeart
Posted on December 23, 2010 at 11:55pmour prayers to the family.
Report Post »joseph Fawcett
Posted on December 23, 2010 at 11:51pmMay God bring comfort to everyone. We celebrate Jesus’ birth, our savior who was born to die for our sins that we may live eternal. Christmas is so much more than presents and santa and all the hoopla. It is about hope, eternal hope of life, not death. That is the reason we are suppose to celebrate and I pray that this family will know and understand that hope of eternal life and what a wonderful gift it is to have. My younger brother had a massive heart attack yesterday in England. He is 48. They medically lowered his body temp to protect his brain and organs. they are in the process of raising his temp right now to see if he has brain waves. My hope is that he has and survives this ordeal but my greater hope is that my brother recieves eternal life so that no matter when we are parted here we will live again through the promise of Jesus’ birth, life, death, and resurection. That is my reality and my thoughts on this very, very sad situation.
http://www.josephfawcettart.com western artist
Report Post »AzDebi
Posted on December 24, 2010 at 12:44amGod bless you Joseph…I will also pray for your brother…”God is an ever present help in time of need…” Your post was beautiful…Thank You.
Report Post »Hmschlmom
Posted on December 24, 2010 at 1:41amYour brother, and your family, are in our prayers, Joseph.
Report Post »God bless and keep you…and grant you HIS peace…
Dustyluv
Posted on December 24, 2010 at 8:50amOur prayers are with you Joseph…
Report Post »commonsenseguy
Posted on December 23, 2010 at 11:51pmi also lost a son years ago around the same and know this family needs a lot of love and prays. may god bless these family and withall my heart i and my wife are truly sorry.
Report Post »Reagan/Demint.deciple
Posted on December 24, 2010 at 10:03amI’m sorry to here this COMMONSENSEGUY.. I’m really sorry for your loss..
Report Post »Hmschlmom
Posted on December 23, 2010 at 11:49pmI wouldn’t trade places with this man for all the money in the world. He would probably give anything to trade places with his son. God be with them.
Report Post »Diamond Girl
Posted on December 23, 2010 at 11:46pmWow…please insert ‘Angel’ in my comment above,,,
A Very Special ‘Angel’ indeed~
Report Post »Diamond Girl
Posted on December 23, 2010 at 11:45pmA Very Special indeed.
God seems to need them when he calls them, I know that sentiment.
Heartfelt Prayers sent to that family…lord knows they need them, silently,
Report Post »eteme
Posted on December 23, 2010 at 11:44pmLord God Almighty, I hope for peace for Michael and his family,
Report Post »TumbleBumble
Posted on December 23, 2010 at 11:38pmReading this with tears in my eyes. I thank God my kids are safe, and feel guilty for thinking that. I am so very sorry to hear about the parent’s loss. What an indescribably tragedy. My broken heart goes out to the family.
Report Post »Reagan/Demint.deciple
Posted on December 24, 2010 at 10:02amAgreed , all the father was doing was “being a father” and this had to happen.. :~(
Report Post »WISEPENNY
Posted on December 23, 2010 at 11:29pmI’m waiting for the Westboro mob to show up with “God hates fishing” posters. Sorry, I don’t mean to sound insensitive. I’m still in shock from the previous story. My sincere condolences to Michael’s family.
Report Post »thepatriotdave
Posted on December 23, 2010 at 11:59pmTotally understandable. No need to explain.
The Son is gone, so now pray for the Father. Parents are NEVER supposed to outlive their kids.
Report Post »dwh320
Posted on December 23, 2010 at 11:27pmMay god give their loved ones comfort in their loss,
Report Post »Reagan/Demint.deciple
Posted on December 24, 2010 at 9:59amWOW, I consider myself a man but I’m crying right now…. This hurts me so bad..
Report Post »@ center right, have you no compassion ? spaming THIS site ? Here you are with a 2 line obit saying and then give a 6 line spam to your site… get a grip there is time and a place..I wouldn’t support you, now that I know whats in there that you probably call a heart.
82dAirborne
Posted on December 23, 2010 at 11:23pmSad. What can you say……..
Report Post »snowleopard3200 {cat folk art}
Posted on December 24, 2010 at 10:23amSimple; rest in peace now son, and may God bring comfort and strength to the lad’s family in this time of loss and grief. Let them remember the life he shared with them in the years ahead, and for them to remember him fondly.
Amen.
Report Post »MeteoricLimbo
Posted on December 24, 2010 at 1:26pmamen
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