Snowmobilers need rescue when sheet of ice breaks free in Lake Erie, Coast Guard says

Seven people were snowmobiling and riding ATVs on Lake Erie when the sheet of ice broke free, officials say.

As the ice separated, those seven people became stranded on the ice floe off Catawba Island in Ohio, the U.S. Coast Guard Station based in Marblehead shared to Facebook. They were then in need of rescue Tuesday, Feb. 1.

The U.S. Coast Guard in Marblehead and Detroit responded, along with the Catawba Island Volunteer Fire Department, to save those who were stranded.

Three were taken off the ice by airboat, MLive reported, and four were airlifted to safety.

“With fluctuating weather conditions, this is a good reminder that no ice is safe ice,” U.S. Coast Guard Great Lakes tweeted.

Officials say winds can cause the ice to break free, so be prepared and monitor the weather when heading out on the ice.

Catawba Island is about 80 miles west of Cleveland.

This story was originally published February 2, 2022 at 5:20 PM.