McFARLAND, Wis. -- Accidents on the ice during fishing season aren’t everyday occurrences, but they aren’t uncommon. Monday night, a DeForest man avoided one by making the right move: not moving at all.

As thick fog and darkness set in, the man was unable to find his way out of a marsh. Knowing there were open patches of water on part of Upper Mud Lake, he sat down and called 911.

The dispatcher who took the call was able to get the man’s cell phone coordinates, and as a result, knew where to send a Dane County Deputy and K9 team.

New handheld GPS units took deputies right to the man and helped them all get back out safely.

“It could have been where we, by yelling, could get out and find him,” said Brian Biwer, a Dane County deputy. “But we're out on the ice ourselves and have to have someone back here blowing the horn for us to get back in.”

The GPS units were paid for by the George Bailey Foundation in Middleton and the K9 unit will be able to use them on large scale searches to better pinpoint a person’s location, or help them find their own way safely while searching.

Other ice fisherman understand why the thick fog can be disorienting.

“Once you get out there, you almost have to take your sled and turn it the right way if you don't have a compass with you. That way you know which way to come back out,” said fisherman Allen Mulcahy.