Look Who it Was Random video

Idaho Falls hero Firefighter who saved dog from frigid lake: 'I just want to help'

989 views · Published 22 December 2015 · 1:53 · Indexed 24 October 2026

Channel: East Idaho News · 2015 · News & Politics

Watch on YouTube

IDAHO FALLS -- It’s the photo that has been seen around the world - an Idaho Falls firefighter rescuing a dog that had fallen in frigid water at Gem Lake.

It happened Friday, Dec. 18 and since EastIdahoNews.com posted the touching picture, Dan Muhlestein has become an Idaho hero.

Muhlestein was at the fire station when a call came in that a dog had fallen through ice at Gem Lake.

"We immediately got in the ambulance and left, Muhlestein says.  "My partner drove and I got ready as we went down here."

Marilyn Sage had been walking her six-year-old Rottweiler, Roxy, near the lake when Sage says the dog darted on to the frozen lake.

Moments later the ice shattered and Roxy fell into the bone-chilling water.

"I thought for sure she was gonna die out there and I couldn’t save her," Sage says.  "I knew that I couldn’t get out there so as soon as I saw her in the icy water, I called 911."

Several firefighters arrived and Muhlestein slowly made his way out to the dog who was about 20 yards from the shore.

"He got a hold of my dog and the collar came off," Sage says. "I’m like, 'Oh my gosh' and then he fell in the water and I’m like, 'Oh my gosh.'" 

Roxy has been in the water almost 45 minutes by the time Muhlestein got to her.  Because of her weight, he ended up in the lake with the dog.

"She’s over a 100 pound dog and I’m 200 pounds so our weight combined was just too much for the ice to support," Muhlestein says.

Muhlestein says he was able to get the dog out of the water in about three minutes and she made her way safely to shore.  

Sage says Roxy has slept a lot since she fell in the water but is getting better and back to her energetic self.

Sage says she can't say enough about the man who saved her precious pup.

"I love him. I was so grateful. I was just so grateful when I saw them," Sage says.

Muhlestein says even though many think he's a hero, he was just doing his job and he's happy to help.

"I’m trained to help and that’s all I want to do is help," Muhlestein says.

More from this channel