The U.S. Coast Guard launched a rescue operation Monday to rescue 20 people stranded on an ice floe on Lake Erie, officials said.
The Coast Guard said the group became stranded on the ice about a half-mile off the coast of Catawba Island State Park near Port Clinton, Ohio.
Rescue teams responded to the first call around 10:20 a.m. and deployed two Coast Guard airboats and a helicopter to assist in the operation, Petty Officer Jessica Fontenette told The Associated Press.
The Coast Guard rescued nine people from the ice floe, and the Put-in-Bay Fire Department rescued the remaining four. The remaining seven stranded people were able to land using their own airboats, the Coast Guard said. No injuries were reported.
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The U.S. Coast Guard responded with two airboats and a helicopter to rescue 20 fishermen stranded on Lake Erie's ice drifts. (US Coast Guard)
Local media described the stranded group as ice fishermen who had boarded the ice floe.
The coast guard rescued nine people from the ice floe. Firefighters rescued four people, and the remaining seven made it safely to shore by airboat. (US Coast Guard)
Officials told the Fremont Messenger that the cracks in the ice grew larger as strong winds pushed the ice floes away, eventually creating a body of water that trapped the fishermen.
Officials warned that strong winds could create dangerous conditions on the ice floes. (US Coast Guard)
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The Coast Guard issued a statement warning the public to use extreme caution around ice blocks.
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“Ice floes are unpredictable and can quickly become dangerous, especially in windy conditions or strong currents,” said Lt. Adeeb Ahmad, Detroit department public information officer. “Be sure to check local ice conditions before heading out and be prepared for emergencies.”
