The 18-year-old high school student, who said he's never even had a speeding ticket, was jumping on ice along the Chena River with friends Friday night. A 10-by-15-foot piece broke off, and Poland hopped on. His friends tossed him a milk crate to sit on and the lid of a cooler to paddle. The river channel was filling with spring melt, but Poland said he was never worried that he was in danger.

"My buddies, they have boats at their house. They could have came and got me if I got hung up," he told The Associated Press. "And the water isn't that deep. I mean it's really cold and it's dangerous, and all that good stuff, but it was really shallow." Still, multiple people called 911 reporting five people jumping on river ice.

The floe got hung up after about a quarter mile, and firefighters launched an inflatable boat and came to Poland's assistance. The boat bottomed out twice on their way over, Poland said.