The Ontario Provincial Police rescued 23 fishermen this weekend after the ice shelf they were standing on broke away from the shore, stranding them in the middle of Georgian Bay.
Officers responded to reports of several people stranded two kilometres from shore after the ice shelf detached from the Balmy Beach coastline north of Owen Sound, Ont., just before noon on March 8, the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) said in a social media post.
The fishermen had gone out in several different groups earlier in the day, when the ice was still connected to shoreline, police said. It later detached and was quickly carried by the wind and current out into the bay that is part of Lake Huron.
Some of the victims found themselves submerged in the freezing cold water after the ice shelf broke into several sections, police said.
Emergency responders from the OPP aviation and marine units, along with fire departments from Bruce, Grey, and Simcoe counties participated in the rescue efforts, police said, noting that Cobble Beach Golf Course opened its facility to allow emergency services to set up a triage response area.
All of the stranded people were safely airlifted back to shore with what the police described as minor injuries that included hypothermia. Despite the success of the rescue, police said the situation could have been deadly due to the temperature of the water.
“This became a life-threatening situation for several of the people due to hypothermia,” the OPP said. “All are expected to make a full recovery. Great teamwork and a quick response by all involved.”
The incident near Balmy Beach on the Bruce Peninsula, located two-and-a-half hours northwest of Toronto, comes as the OPP continue to urge the public to stay off all ice surfaces due to dangerous, rapidly changing conditions caused by fluctuating temperatures this winter.
“The Ontario Provincial Police is urging residents to exercise extreme caution as warmer temperatures and rain significantly alter winter conditions,” the provincial police said in a video advisory. “These changes can rapidly weaken ice in lakes, rivers, and ponds, turning familiar landscapes into unpredictable and dangerous environments.”
Hamilton police issued a similar warning after six people also ended up in the water this weekend in southwestern Ontario.
Hamilton Police said two youths fell into Lake Ontario off the city’s harbour front on March 7.
“Despite being warned by witnesses that the ice was becoming thin, the youths remained on the ice,” police said in a press release. “One of them noticed the ice bending beneath them and attempted to jump away, at which point the ice broke and both fell into the water.”
Several bystanders ventured onto the ice to assist the youths, but they too fell through the ice and into the water.
Police said everyone was pulled to safety, but one of the youths was taken to hospital for treatment of hypothermia. The remaining five individuals were treated at the scene and were taken home by police.
Hamilton police said residents need to avoid attempting ice rescues themselves and instead call for help.
“Entering the ice not only puts individuals at risk, but can also place rescuers and bystanders in danger,” the press release said. “If you see someone fall through the ice, call 9-1-1 immediately and avoid going onto the ice yourself.”
The Canadian Press contributed to this report
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