Hennepin County: Ice Boater Breaks Through Ice On Lake Minnetonka
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- An ice boat and its operator fell through ice on Lake Minnetonka Thursday.
According to Hennepin County officials, the incident occurred shortly after noon in West Arm Bay.
Two men operating separate ice boats were on Lake Minnetonka when one broke through the ice and into the frigid water. The boat's operator went into the water for a short time, but was able to pull himself up onto nearby ice.
"He said he had checked the ice ahead of time by his house, and said it was about two to two and a half inches," Lieutenant Kent Vnuk said. "Of course where he checked it, it could have been 2 or 2.5 inches, but further out in the lake, it was only an inch and a quarter thick, and that's the area he hit and that's where he went through."
His friend was able to maneuver his ice boat to that location and pick him up.
The county sheriff's office and Orono police responded to the incident, which is being investigated.
The sheriff's office is urging people to stay off of ice throughout Hennepin County due to extremely hazardous conditions.
"The ice is really deceptive right now," Lieutenant Kent Vnuk said. "It looks like it's strong. It's not strong."
Authorities say the ice isn't safe until it's at least four inches thick, and that could take a few more weeks.