Coast Guard rescues 14 people from ice floe

TUSCOLA CO., Mich. (WNEM) - The U.S. Coast Guard reported that all 14 people who had been stuck on an ice floe in the vicinity of Fish Point on Thomas Road in Tuscola County have been saved and transported to EMS.

About 8:45 p.m. on Feb. 6, the U.S. Coast Guard said they received a report of up to 30 people on an ice floe in the vicinity of Fish Point on Thomas Road in Tuscola County.

The Coast Guard said in a Facebook post there were an unknown number of people in the water. The U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Detroit and the U.S. Coast Guard Station Saginaw, along with local agencies, responded.

At about 9:30 p.m., the U.S. Coast Guard said two people were rescued from the water by a Huron County airboat and transported to EMS. They also said a U.S. Coast Guard helicopter had rescued three people from the water, transported them to EMS, and headed back to the ice floe, according to the Coast Guard. The agency said a rescue swimmer had remained on the ice floe with an estimated 10 to 15 people.

At about 10:15 p.m., the U.S. Coast Guard said the Air Station Detroit Dolphin helicopter had rescued five more people, and a helicopter from the U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Traverse City had arrived at the scene to support evacuation, the agency said.

At about 10:30 p.m., the Coast Guard said all 14 lives had been saved and taken to local EMS for monitoring. The helicopter from Air Station Traverse City was conducting an extended search at that time to ensure no one was left on the ice or in the water.

The U.S. Coast Guard wants to remind everyone partaking in recreational ice activities to check the weather, wear bright colors, and be aware of when sunset is. They said no ice is safe ice.

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