“The ice is separating!”
That was the harrowing message received by the Brown County Sheriff’s Office in Wisconsin Saturday morning when nearly three dozen people needed to be rescued.
Several trips were needed to rescue the 34 people who became stranded while ice fishing in Green Bay, Wis. Each trip out saw the ice block on which the fishermen were precariously perched drift further from the main shoreline. Rescue boats had to travel more than a mile on each trip.
Some of those who were rescued described the sound of the ice breaking loose to that of a gunshot. Officials are still working to determine the cause of the ice's detachment from the shore.
It took nearly 90 minutes but authorities on ice rescue boats were eventually able to retrieve everyone and bring them back safely to shore.
No injuries were reported.
The incident took place along Green Bay’s east shore, on water that leads to Lake Michigan.
Related
