Dozens Rescued from Break-Away Ice Chunk on Minnesota Lake

Upper Red Lake, MN (KROC-AM News)- Nearly three dozen people were saved from a break-away chunk of ice on a northern Minnesota lake. 

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A news release issued by the Beltrami County Sheriff’s Office says dispatchers received a report that numerous people had become stranded on an ice chunk around 4:45 p.m. Sunday. 

The initial report indicated 40-50 people were stranded on a piece of ice that had 40-50 feet of water between it and the shore. The ice breakaway was reported on Upper Red Lake, which is about 60 miles north of Bemidji. 

The news release says 35 people were stranded on the ice. Emergency responders used an airboat to evacuate the individuals to shore. 

The ice is believed to have been broken away during a period of high winds. Those wind gusts blew the ice chunk further from the shore, growing the gap between the ice and the shore to at least 200 feet, according to the news release.

Shortly after 8pm, first responders had taken all of the stranded individuals to shore. No injuries were reported and no one had fallen into the water. The Beltrami County Sheriff’s Office said of the ice conditions:

The Beltrami County Sheriff’s Office reminds those who venture on the ice that the unseasonably warm weather combined with recent rain have resulted in inconsistent ice conditions. At least four inches of clear new ice is recommended for walking. Ice can never be considered 100% safe. If you become stranded on the ice, call for help. We would rather have trained responders assist than someone falling in the water.

 

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