A north Iowa man is fortunate to be alive after getting stranded in frigid conditions.Â
The Kossuth County Sheriff’s Office says 43-year-old Michael Riggert of rural Algona left home with the family dog shortly after midnight Tuesday (01.16) morning, when his vehicle became stuck in a snow drift about five miles northwest of Algona. As he tried to shovel the vehicle free, deputies say the family dog bumped the door lock, stranding Riggert outside in the cold.
Riggert then broke a window to get back in the car and stayed inside due to the extreme wind chill. However, Riggert’s vehicle eventually ran out of gas.
The Sheriff’s Office says a 911 call around 9:30 am Tuesday morning reported a person passed out and suffering from hypothermia. With the road drifted shut, the Kossuth County Road Department was called in to plow to the scene and Riggert was rescued.Â
He was taken to Kossuth Regional Health Center, where he was treated for hypothermia and low glucose levels. Riggert was expected to be released from the hospital on Wednesday (01.17).
The Iowa State Patrol and Algona EMS also assisted with this incident.
