Teen rescued from Berlin Reservoir Caught by wind while trying to retreive hat that blew into water

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DEERFIELD " A Warren teen trying to retrieve his hat from the Berlin Reservior Tuesday had to be rescued by the Deerfield Fire Department.
The Berlin Reservior is about 20 miles southeast of Ravenna.
Deerfield Fire Chief Miles Felmly said a call came in at 3:16 p.m. from an Ohio Department of Natural Resources officer about a man in trouble on a boat calling for assistance at the Berlin Reservoir. The Deerfield Fire Department responded with six members, bringing an ambulance, boat and rescue equipment to the scene.
The 15-year-old was at the lake with friends when his hat blew into the water. The teen took a small boat in an attempt to retrieve the hat and was caught in the heavy winds that blew his boat almost two miles to the north, close to the U.S. 224 crossing over Berlin Reservoir, Felmly said.
The Berlin Fire Department was called for its boat and the Portage County Dive Team was activated. Calling the dive team also brings Life Flight helicopter to the scene, Felmly said.
Deerfield firefighters had difficulty finding a place free of ice to launch their boat. The boat was put in the water at the public launch at the Bedell Road campgrounds. Lt. Jason Boivin and Lt. Ryan Leifheit were able to make their way through the ice-covered water using the bow of the boat to break the ice. Upon reaching the victim they transferred him to theirboat and began to make their way back to the launch site against they heavy gusting wind and large wind-driven waves, Felmly said.
Upon reaching the safety of the land all three in the boat were soaked from water-laden wind blowing into the boat.
The victim was transported to Robinson Memorial Hospital in Ravenna for treatment.
Felmly said these types of rescues are some of the most dangerous situations firefighters face. Deerfield firefighters are trained in ice rescue and have specialized suits for the task.