Man Dies After Being Pulled From Evergreen Lake When Tractor Plunges Through Ice

EVERGREEN, Colo. (CBS4) - A man who was pulled out of Evergreen Lake Thursday morning by emergency crews after a tractor fell through the ice, has died.

The accident happened on Thursday morning in Evergreen at the lake, which is located near Highway 74 and Upper Bear Creek Road in Evergreen.

Greg Henika, a Blue Spruce Kiwanis leader, was pulled into the water along with the tractor while he was clearing snow. Henika was removing the snow from the ice for the 5th annual ice golf tournament, which was scheduled for Sunday. Kiwanis's Evergreen Ice Golf event has since been cancelled.

Henika, 67, of Idledale, was taken in an ambulance to a helicopter and the helicopter flew to St. Anthony's Hospital. Unfortunately he succumbed to his injuries and died at the hospital.

John Ellis, one of Henika's fellow club members, says he will be missed, "In there volunteering, never too quiet, if he has something to say he'll let you know, always helping do things and be involved."

A dive team from West Metro Fire, along with several other agencies, was involved in the rescue operation.

The lake is a popular place for pickup hockey games and ice skating.

"That ice thickness is not always guaranteed, for the fishermen and/or anybody else on the ice. So it's well posted: Thin Ice, Danger," said Evergreen Fire Rescue Doug Saba.

Crews worked to bring the tractor to the surface of the lake about 5 p.m. on Thursday but couldn't get it out so will continue on Friday.

Henika was one of several volunteers at the lake preparing for a Kiwanis benefit on-ice golf tournament scheduled for Sunday. That ice golf tournament has been cancelled. The lake was closed for the rest of the day on Thursday.