ATV Drivers Break Through Thin Ice On Lake Superior
BAYFIELD, Wis. (WCCO) -- Four fishermen were rescued when their ATVs broke through thin ice in the Apostle Islands on Lake Superior Saturday morning, according to the La Pointe Volunteer Fire Department.
The four were driving the ATVs at 8:30 a.m. when they encountered the thin ice near Stockton Island.
Authorities say one man broke through and the ATV was lost in 160 feet of water. Fortunately, the man was able to get back the ice. Another victim was soaked when his ATV broke through. That ATV, along with one other that had become stuck, had to be left behind.
The men were rescued due in part to the La Pointe Fire Department's specialized ice rescue windsled. That windsled was met on the way to Bayfield by La Pointe's large winter transportation windsled, and the victims were transferred for the remaining trip to Bayfield.
The fishermen told authorities that they had fished in the area Friday and had not encountered any bad ice. Rescuers noticed that there were many large areas of unstable ice and slush holes in the fifteen mile stretch to and from the rescue site.
