SAN DIEGO (KGTV) -- Deputies credited hikers for calling 911, saving a man who had fallen through the ice at Big Laguna Lake Sunday morning.

The San Diego County Sheriff’s Department received a call around 11:45 about a man who trapped in the lake after falling through ice.

According to the department, the man, who is in his 60s, tried to ski on the ice, but fell in because the ice was too thin.

A helicopter was able to quickly descend on the lake, lowering a flotation device down to the man.

“He knew he didn’t have much more in him. He knew he had to get out of that water. He didn’t have much time,” Deputy Bill Liniewicz said.

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Cal Fire and San Diego Sheriff’s Department all worked together on the rescue.

Video from the scene shows a helicopter lowering a rescue device down to the man trapped in the water.

Cal Fire took to social media following the incident to warn of the dangers near bodies of water as people swarm to see the recent snow that fell on the San Diego County mountains.

“If visiting the snow please remember to stay away from all bodies of water and stay on designated trails,” the agency said.

