Owen Sound (Rajeev Sound)— A group of 23 ice fishermen was successfully rescued on Sunday, March 8, 2026, after a massive ice shelf broke away from the shoreline in Georgian Bay, drifting nearly two kilometres into open water. The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) launched a high-stakes aerial rescue operation north of Owen Sound near Balmy Beach, utilizing multiple helicopters to ferry the stranded individuals back to safety before the disintegrating ice could claim more victims.
The emergency unfolded shortly before noon when the large piece of ice, which had been connected to the shore earlier that morning, suddenly separated due to strong winds and shifting currents. As the shelf drifted further into the bay, it began to fracture into several smaller sections. The instability caused some of the fishermen to become partially submerged in the frigid, slushy water, creating a life-threatening situation. Emergency responders from the OPP Aviation and Marine units, alongside local fire departments, paramedics, and the Ornge air ambulance service, arrived on the scene to find the groups scattered across the shrinking ice floes.
To facilitate the rescue, the Cobble Beach Golf Course opened its facilities to serve as a strategic landing zone and triage centre for the incoming victims. Two helicopters were deployed to perform a series of shuttle flights, winching and lifting the 23 individuals from the ice and transporting them to the awaiting medical teams on shore. By 2:30 p.m., every person had been safely accounted for and brought back to land. While several individuals were treated for minor injuries and varying degrees of hypothermia, provincial police confirmed that all are expected to make a full recovery.
OPP Prov. Const. Craig Soldan noted that while ice fishing remains a popular seasonal sport, the recent mild and fluctuating temperatures have rendered the ice highly unstable. He emphasized that what may appear to be a solid surface can quickly become a trap due to melting and strong river currents underneath. Soldan strongly encouraged the public to stay off all waterways for the remainder of the season, reiterating the long-standing police warning that “no ice is safe ice” during this volatile time of year.
