Two ice anglers averted a near disaster Wednesday morning when the Southern Door Fire Department and the United States Coast Guard rescued them. A witness called 911 shortly after 11 a.m. near Oak Avenue in the Town of Nasewaupee to report that two people were on a chunk of ice floating away from the shore. Southern Door Fire Chief Rich Olson said by the time they and the Coast Guard got their banana boats into the water that the original 40-foot gap had grown to nearly 400 feet.
Both anglers were brought to shore safely, though some of their equipment was left behind. Olson says it was one of the earliest ice rescues they could recall. He also reminds anglers to take extra caution before heading out onto the ice, especially as temperatures are expected to be above freezing over the next several days.
Picture courtesy of United States Coast Guard
BZ #USCG STA Sturgeon Bay after report received of 2 people stranded on an ice floe at #SherwoodPoint in #SturgeonBay, WI. They deployed their Rapid Deployment Craft, assisted 1 person to shore. #DoorCounty Sheriff assisted 1, both declined any medical treatment. #Teamwork pic.twitter.com/RDy8dP64Bl
— USCG Great Lakes (@USCGGreatLakes) December 28, 2022
