After a group of ice fishers had to be rescued Sunday after the ice they were on broke free and drifted into Georgian Bay near Owen Sound, police are reminding ice fishers of the importance of staying off thin ice.
Members of the Ontario Provincial Police say they received several distress calls just before noon on March 8, 2026 from people stranded on a large sheet of drifting ice.
"Just before noon, we received several distress calls for fishermen that were basically isolated on a section of ice that had separated from shore just north of Owen Sound," said OPP Constable Craig Soldan.
Police initially believed as many as 30 people were involved, but later confirmed 23 individuals were stranded as wind pushed the ice farther out into the bay.
Soldan says the ice sheet stretched hundreds of metres and quickly began breaking apart as people attempted to get back to shore.
"Once they started to realize that they were moving away from shore, the individuals started to run back towards shore and realized that this ice was getting thinner and weaker and breaking apart," he said.
Some people ended up in the frigid water while others remained on floating pieces of ice.
"They were hanging on for their lives at one point, awaiting rescue," Soldan said.
Among those stranded was ice fisher Kevin Fox, who says the situation escalated quickly after a crack in the ice began widening.
"I could see that it had separated probably three or four feet," Fox said. "We all just started scrambling, getting our gear...and yelled out to all the ice fishermen that the ice was separating."
Fox says the group attempted to reach shore but quickly realized the drifting ice made escape impossible.
"At that point we knew it was going to have to be a rescue situation," he said.
A large emergency response was launched, including two OPP helicopters and marine units, while Air Ornge helicopters were placed on standby.
Soldan says the drifting ice had moved between two and four kilometres from shore before crews were able to reach the group.
"We were able to go out and take the individuals that were in the water first," he said. "Then come back, and with multiple trips they were able to get the 23 people safely to shore."
Helicopters lifted people off the ice in several trips. Fox says rescuers took people in small groups.
"They took us out in groups of three," he said.
By mid-afternoon, all 23 people had been airlifted back to land. Some were treated for hypothermia, but everyone is expected to recover.
Soldan says the rescue involved multiple agencies, including nine ambulances, four fire departments, OPP officers from several detachments, marine units, and coordination with the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre Trenton.
Nearby Cobble Beach Golf Course was used as a landing zone for helicopters.
Police say the incident highlights how quickly ice conditions can deteriorate late in the season.
"This is an example of how bad things can go very quickly," Soldan said.
Fox echoed that warning, saying changing winds and warming temperatures can shift ice even when it appears thick.
"No ice is safe ice," he said.
Police are urging people to stay off the ice as temperatures continue to rise.
