HURON COUNTY, MI – A lone fisherman was rescued from the frigid waters of the Saginaw Bay this week after breaking through ice near Fairhaven Township amid rainy conditions.
Huron Central Dispatch received a call from the Caro-area man at approximately 8:30 a.m. on Friday, Feb. 20, after the incident, which occurred about 1.5 miles off the shore of Rose Island while he was riding his all-terrain vehicle (ATV), according to a news release from the Huron County Sheriff’s Office.
The man did not sustain any injuries but was left in water up to his waist and struggled to pull himself out as the ice was not thick enough to support him.
To minimize his contact with the water, the man returned to the ATV and sat on the vehicle. In total, he spent about 45 minutes in the water, police said.
The Caseville Fire Department towed an airboat to the scene, which was used in the rescue. The Huron County Sheriff’s Office, Fairhaven Police Department and a firefighter from the Fairhaven Township Fire Department also responded to the incident.
Emergency personnel rescued the fisherman from the water after pulling the boat alongside him.
The man displayed symptoms of mild hypothermia and was placed in a hypothermic rescue suit. He was then transported to shore and treated by Sebewaing Ambulance personnel.
A similar incident occurred in the same area about eight years ago, according to the Huron County Sheriff’s Office. Two fishermen died after breaking through ice and into about four feet of water while riding an ATV.
The men were also unable to pull themselves out of the water, and their bodies were found by deputies using the same airboat used following this week’s incident.
Additionally, rather than calling 911, the fishermen first called a friend for help, but the call went unnoticed for hours.
The Huron County Sheriff’s Office is reminding the public, particularly anglers, to be cautious of ice, regardless of its reported thickness.