WEBSTER, Mass. - Jumping into Webster Lake, but not to save a life. It’s a special drill. 

“I got a text saying, ‘I think he went in 10 minutes ago,’” Ross Fournier with the Webster Lake Association said. 

“Einstein” went under. They put the mannequin on a frozen Webster lake in January as part of a fundraiser. Now, Einstein is helping the fire department train for water rescues. The diver got him to safety in less than five minutes.

“We knew what we were dealing with. We could see him,” Deputy Fire Chief Chris Jolda said. “We had time to plan where we were going to deploy from and where we would dive from. “

A real rescue is rarely this easy. Luckily, the department doesn’t have to make a lot of underwater rescues, but they said it’s important to stay prepared. ​

“When you come into a situation that is an emergency, it’s usually unknown,” Jolda said. “Ninety-nine percent of the time, it’s in an area you haven’t trained in. You have to be able to think quick on your feet.” 

What You Need To Know

  • Einstein fell into Webster Lake on March 8 at 8:49 a.m.
  • The mannequin was placed on the frozen lake as a fundraiser and now it is helping the fire department train for water rescues
  •  The mannequin stayed on ice longer than expected. The closest prediction was March 8 at 8:20 a.m.
  •  Part of the money raised helps the fire department stay equipped and well trained

The Einstein Ice Out fundraiser received over 2,100 guesses.

“We think he stayed up a lot longer than people thought,” Fournier said. “The weather is just so unpredictable.”

Einstein fell in on March 8 at 8:49 a.m. Many people predicted the day, but no one nailed down the exact time. 

“The closest time was (March 8 at) 8:20 (a.m.),” Fournier said. 

Part of the money raised goes to the help the fire department stay equipped and well trained to rescue anyone in need. 

“We really haven’t had any over the last couple of years,” said Jolda. “But it doesn’t mean it won’t happen this afternoon.”