The Ottawa County Sheriff’s Office says a 911 call was made just before 9:30 a.m. for a fisherman who suddenly collapsed on the ice while setting up shanties.

CATAWBA ISLAND, Ohio — An ice fishing trip on Lake Erie turned tragic Sunday morning after a man suffered a medical emergency about a mile offshore from Catawba Island State Park.

The Ottawa County Sheriff’s Office says a 911 call was made just before 9:30 a.m. for a fisherman who suddenly collapsed on the ice while setting up shanties.

According to the 911 call recording, nearby fishermen began CPR and continued lifesaving efforts for nearly an hour until a U.S. Coast Guard helicopter arrived and airlifted the man to the hospital, where family friends say he later died due to complications of a heart attack.

Charlie Kempf, owner of THC Ice Guide Service, posted a heartfelt message to his business’ Facebook page Sunday afternoon, sharing the passing of his employee, 52-year-old Ben Eickholt. He says he remembers Eickholt as an friendly, genuine outdoorsman.

“It’s just left a big empty hole in my heart really,” Kempf said. “I just can’t believe this is happening.”

A report from the Catawba Island Township Police Department says an officer attempted to reach the scene by snowmobile but was unable to locate Eickholt on the ice.

Ottawa County Sheriff Steve Levorchick says while medical emergencies are not common calls on the ice, locating someone during an emergency can be difficult.

“In Ottawa County, we have 255 square miles of land, but we have 320 square miles of water,” Levorchick said. “The vast area makes it difficult to locate anyone, plus you don’t have crossroads or landmarks. It’s just open ice.”

Dispatch audio indicates that a GPS ping from the 911 call may have been critical in helping responders narrow down Eickholt’s location.

Kempf says he’s grateful to everyone who stepped in to help and hopes the tragedy serves as a reminder for others heading out onto the ice.

“I think it’s pretty imperative that people learn CPR,” Kempf said. “It can be a lifesaver in a lot of instances. It’s a very useful tool in your back pocket in so many circumstances where you could help somebody else.”