A routine ice fishing outing on Georgian Bay turned chaotic when a massive ice shelf detached from the shore, stranding 23 fishermen who made a desperate dash to safety.
The Sudden Break
Kevin Fox, one of the fishermen involved, entered the ice around 8:30 a.m. on Sunday with his friend Alfie. They ventured about four to five kilometers offshore, drilled a hole, and began fishing. “Within probably five minutes of drilling that hole and starting to fish, I noticed that the ice was opening,” Fox recounted.
He immediately alerted Alfie and warned nearby anglers. The group packed their gear and banded together to search for an escape route. Fox estimated around 50 people were on the ice that morning, with 23 ending up on the drifting section. “We couldn’t even see the edge of the ice; it was multiple kilometers worth that separated,” he said.
Communication spread quickly, with fishermen shouting warnings and using cellphones to notify those farther out.
Rescue Amid High Winds
Despite warmer-than-usual temperatures in nearby areas, the ice appeared stable initially. However, emergency responders mobilized swiftly. Aviation and marine units from the Ontario Provincial Police, along with local fire departments, answered distress calls.
Fox captured video of a helicopter lifting him from the ice floe, which he shared on Facebook. By rescue time, winds gusted between 60 and 80 km/h. Officials report that all 23 were airlifted to shore by mid-afternoon Sunday, sustaining only minor injuries like hypothermia.
The ice fractured into smaller pieces during the drift, partially submerging some individuals in frigid water.
Equipment Losses and Future Plans
Fishermen abandoned heavy gear—including augers, drills, and strike masters—resulting in losses totaling tens of thousands of dollars. Fox alone lost several thousand dollars worth. “Every fisherman out there paid a price; every single person left something behind,” he noted.
Safe at home, Fox intends to continue ice fishing this weekend but plans to avoid Georgian Bay shores for now.
