1dead, 125 rescued when ice floe breaks
SANDUSKY, Ohio, Feb. 7 (UPI) -- One man died before about 125 anglers reached safety Saturday after being stranded on an ice floe on Lake Erie in Ohio, authorities said.
The (Cleveland) Plain Dealer reported the fishermen were stranded after wood they had used to cross over a crack in the ice fell into the lake when the ice shifted. They spent about four hours on the iceberg Saturday morning near Crane Creek Park, which is close to the Davis Besse nuclear power plant west of Sandusky, the newspaper said.
U.S. and Canadian coast guards, as well as at least 15 fire departments, were involved in the rescue. They used boats and helicopters to rescue the anglers.
Officials said higher than normal temperatures appear to have caused the ice to melt and break free.
"I have no problem with people ice fishing but these idiots should realize that when you see open water, you should not build a bridge and cross it," Ottawa County Sheriff Robert Bratton said. "It's a shame you can't arrest people for stupidity."
SANDUSKY, Ohio, Feb. 7 (UPI) -- One man died before about 125 anglers reached safety Saturday after being stranded on an ice floe on Lake Erie in Ohio, authorities said.
The (Cleveland) Plain Dealer reported the fishermen were stranded after wood they had used to cross over a crack in the ice fell into the lake when the ice shifted. They spent about four hours on the iceberg Saturday morning near Crane Creek Park, which is close to the Davis Besse nuclear power plant west of Sandusky, the newspaper said.
U.S. and Canadian coast guards, as well as at least 15 fire departments, were involved in the rescue. They used boats and helicopters to rescue the anglers.
Officials said higher than normal temperatures appear to have caused the ice to melt and break free.
"I have no problem with people ice fishing but these idiots should realize that when you see open water, you should not build a bridge and cross it," Ottawa County Sheriff Robert Bratton said. "It's a shame you can't arrest people for stupidity."
