Anglers describe harrowing phone calls to loved ones once ice detached from shores of Georgian Bay in Ontario
Kevin Fox thought the spring-like temperatures that had temporarily pushed the cold away from south-eastern Ontario meant a good day on for ice fishing, a popular winter pastime in the region.
After shifting location because the wind and ice “didn’t feel right” and the fish weren’t biting close to shore, he and a friend joined nearly two dozen others far out on a sheet of ice in Lake Huron. They followed the familiar routine of anyone who spends a day on the ice: they drilled holes, dropped their lines and waited.
Less than four hours after venturing on to the frozen lake, however, disaster struck. Fishers including Fox noticed they were moving – imperceptibly slowly, but enough that it was captured on their electronic devices.
Unseasonably warm weather and strong winds had helped detach a large piece of ice from the shores of Georgian Bay, stranding 23 people – including families – and prompting a dramatic rescue.
