After Man's Death In Evergreen Lake, Crews Work To Remove ATV

EVERGREEN, Colo. (CBS4) - People in Evergreen are mourning the loss of a well known volunteer in the foothills community. Greg Henika died on Thursday after plunging into the icy water of Evergreen Lake.

On Thursday morning Henika, 67, was clearing snow while on an ATV when the ice beneath him gave way. A dive team arrived and pulled Henicka from the lake but he later died from his injuries.

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

The ATV he was riding on remains at the bottom of the lake, and crews were working to get it out late Thursday and on Friday.

The work is being done on the thick parts of the ice, which is a safe distance from the area where Henika's accident happened.

Henika had been clearing snow for a Blue Spruce Kiwanis charity on-ice golf event for developmentally disabled adults. That was supposed to take place on Sunday but the event has been canceled.

People who know Henika say he died preparing for an event he loved and a cause he had a passion for.

"It's not easy. When you lose a member of our small, tight-knit community up here it's a hard thing and unfortunately we've all got to move forward," said Evergreen Metro District manager Marc Rosenberg. "At this point we want to make sure that the machine doesn't stay in the water too long and hurt the water source.

"It is Evergreen's drinking water, so we've got to make sure we get the machine out as quick and safely as possible."

Evergreen Lake was closed for skating on Friday but officials with the city's parks and recreation department said they expect it will reopen on Saturday.