Snowmobiler Talks About Going Over Dam in Anoka

A man who went over a dam while snowmobiling on the Rum River suffered a broken back, but is thankful to be alive.

Twenty-one-year-old Jeff Hayes is recovering in the hospital after being in the icy water for nearly half an hour. It happened at the dam near Main Street in downtown Anoka Tuesday night.

Hayes says he got too close to the dam, then accelerated and tried to jump it to prevent going into the river. His snowmobile ended up on the ice, he in the water.

He climbed onto the ice and was rescued after crews threw him ropes.

Hayes underwent surgery Wednesday afternoon and is expected to make a complete recovery.

Watch an extended clip of our interview with Hayes here.

Tweet