Feb. 6 (UPI) — Rescuers including Vermont State Police and the U.S. Coast Guard came to the assistance of five ice skaters who became stranded on a drifting ice sheet.
Authorities said a group of 10 people were ice skating on Lake Champlain on Tuesday when an ice sheet separated from shore, causing five of the skaters to become stranded.
“We were a bit surprised; it happened so fast,” Nick Vanderkloot, who was one of the stranded skaters, told WCAX-TV.
Witnesses quickly identified that something was wrong and called out to the skaters.
“He said, ‘Are you guys OK, and do you need to be rescued?’ And we said, ‘Yeah, it would be good if someone could send a boat,'” Vanderkloot said.
Multiple rescue crews, including Vermont State Police and the U.S. Coast Guard, responded to the scene. They used inflatable boats and kayaks to ferry the skaters back to shore.
“It’s a very laborsome type exercise, but when they train for this and are prepared for this, we do have a great outcome where friends and family are joined back together and everyone’s safe,” Vermont State Police Lt. Paul Ravelin said.
No injuries were reported.
Officials said the incident should serve as a safety reminder to anyone participating in activities on the ice.
“They thought it was safe enough, and then conditions changed very quickly, and they became stranded. Folks have to remember that no ice is safe ice,” Ravelin told WPTZ-TV.
