The United States Coast Guard carried out on Sunday (6) the rescue of 18 people who were trapped in a block of ice in the region of Lake Erie, one of the five American Great Lakes, near the municipality of Catawba Island, in Ohio.
The rescue service unit reported at 1:20 pm local time (3:20 pm GMT) that an airboat and helicopter were being used to rescue 20 people. The block of ice came loose while they were riding their motorcycles in the snow, according to the published information.
Three hours later, the Coast Guard reported that, in fact, 18 individuals were rescued at the scene and that none of them required medical attention. The helicopter used managed to lift seven people, and another four were rescued by the hovercraft. The remaining seven were taken by land by another hydrofoil, owned by a local resident who volunteered to help with the rescue.
Local officials urged, in a statement, all those who are going to perform recreational activities on the lake to take precautions, such as dressing appropriately for the temperature of the water, not the air; wear a life jacket and carry equipment such as ice picks that can help in case the blocks break.
“There is no such thing as safe ice, but people can mitigate the risks,” said Lt. Jeremias Schiessel of the Coast Guard. “Always make sure someone will be waiting for you at the departure location. The Great Lakes ice is unpredictable, and conditions can change very quickly.”
