News release of Good Morning America Segment with the State Police Dive team

Writting by Robert May, Indiana State Police (Detective)

Robert May - Mary Kay Kidwell - Dr. Gordon Giesbrecht

The Indiana State Police Underwater Search and Recovery team along with the Indianapolis Fire Department and Gordon Giesbrecht, Ph.D. of the University of Manitoba filmed a segment with Good Morning America this winter on cold water immersions. Doctor Giesbrecht is a world renowned expert on surviving the cold. He has teamed up with the Indiana State Police and the Indianapolis Fire Department in the past. When ABC came to him requesting his expertise in their winter survival series he asked to do with ISP and IFD. The segment was filmed at Geist Reservoir in January. Garner’s wrecker Service donated a car for the dive team to drive onto to the ice. ABC Correspondent Matt Gutman drove the car onto to the ice where it broke through and he demonstrates how to escape. ABC flew producers Robert Zepeda in from Miami and Gary Wynn in from New York to produce the segment.


Master Diver Robert May says if you slide off the road into any type of water whether it is frozen or open water the method to survival is the same. Open your windows, undue your seatbelt, get out the window to the top of the car. Once out of the car you can decide to wait for help or make it to shore. If you have children in the car get the oldest out first. Do not use your cell phone while you are in the car to call 911. The time you waste talking to a dispatcher or a friend is the time you need to get out of the car.

Gordon Giesbrecht, Ph.D.
Associate Dean (External Relations)
Faculty of Kinesiology and Recreation Management
102 Frank Kennedy Bldg.
University of Manitoba