HURON COUNTY, Mich. (WWJ) – Three men are safely back on shore after their shanty blew nearly a mile across the ice of Saginaw Bay on Sunday.
Huron County Sheriff’s deputies responded to the bay near McKinley Township around 8 a.m. Sunday after a witness reported seeing a large shanty blowing across the ice, according to a report from MLive.
The witness said there was a “struggling individual” outside of the shanty.
Authorities said the shanty, which was homemade, was about the size of a small camper.
Sunday’s high winds that swept across Michigan with gusts approaching 60 mph blew the shanty an estimated mile across the ice.
Police said the three men, whose names and ages weren’t released, had spent the night in the shanty and were aware of the coming storm.
The men were gearing up to head in when the winds hit, according to MLive.
Deputies kept an eye on the fishermen, who were about a mile and a half offshore, while the Caseville Fire Department brought an airboat from the sheriff’s office to help with the rescue.
In the end, authorities said the airboat was not needed and the fishermen were able to return to the shore unassisted.
The men told police they were unhurt and refused medical treatment.
Police told other fishermen who were heading out on Sunday to stay off the ice until the wind died down. Authorities said anyone who is going on the ice should use extreme caution, especially as temperatures across Michigan climbed into the 50s, even the 60s in some areas over the weekend.
Related
