50' of rope tied to a partially sand filled bleach bottle. So simple and inexpensive. I keep it hung out of the elements close to the pond, under a picnic table in this case, so the rope stays dry and doesn't freeze together.
If it was me in the water, with my luck, the bottle with sand would have hit me in the head. FWIW to me, your buddy should have listened to you and not gone out on the ice in the first place. If the ice is even slightly questionable, stay off it!
My 2 cents
Just to be clear though, the rope and a bottle are a must and a great idea. There will be one in my pump house soon!
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