Prince Edward County firefighters and 424 Squadron Search and Rescue personnel combined efforts late Wednesday afternoon to rescue four fishermen stranded on an ice floe in the Bay of Quinte.
Crews were called to Wellers Bay not far from Consecon (Edward Drive) just after 5 o’clock. Two people were rescued by firefighters in a boat and two were lifted off the ice by a helicopter from CFB Trenton.
The ice on the bay had broken off at a pressure crack leaving the fishermen stranded and floating toward Lake Ontario.
County Fire Chief Chad Brown says that “anyone rescued off the ice may be responsible for the associated response costs. Anyone out on the ice should ensure they have the necessary gear and monitor conditions to prevent unnecessary risk.”