Ice sheet breaks away from shoreline, stranding fishermen in Michigan bay, rescuers say
Two Michigan ice fishers who found themselves adrift on a piece of ice in Lake Huron were rescued unharmed, according to Coast Guard officials.
The two people became stranded when the portion of ice they were standing on separated from the shoreline of Almeda Beach and floated about a mile into Saginaw Bay, according to a U.S. Coast Guard news release.
They were ice fishing before they were in need of rescue, WJRT reported.
Emergency responders received an initial report of two people stranded on the ice flow around 12:40 p.m. Jan 22. Coast Guard rescuers from the Saginaw River station and Air Station Detroit responded, along with first responders from area agencies, according to the release.
Rescuers approached the ice floe in a boat. A helicopter crew flew over the area to search for anyone else who might have become stranded, but found no one else, officials said.
In an interview with WNEM, Kawkawlin Township Fire Chief Steve Bernreuter said the wind may have caused the half-mile-long ice floe to separate and float away.
“You know there’s family here, there’s friends. It’s a pretty close group around here, a lot of these fishermen all know each other. So it’s nice when you get them all off and back here on safe ground,” Bernreuter said.
The U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary’s safety tips for ice fishers include bringing ice picks, a compass, a marine radio and a life jacket. Ice fishers should also wear reflective clothing or tape. Enthusiasts should also stay in pairs, watch the weather conditions and keep an ear out for cracking noises.
“As temperatures drop and winter activities like ice fishing and snowmobiling draw people to frozen lakes and rivers, understanding the dangers of ice is critical to prevent accidents,” U.S. Coast Guard Senior Chief Petty Officer James Hassinger, Officer-in-Charge Station Saginaw River, said in the release.
This story was originally published January 24, 2025 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Ice sheet breaks away from shoreline, stranding fishermen in Michigan bay, rescuers say."
