TOWNSHIP OF GARDNER, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – Two men had to be rescued out of the water of Green Bay in Door County Saturday afternoon after the ice beneath them cracked open.
The Door County Sheriff’s Department tells FOX 11 both of the men are expected to be ok, but one was airlifted to a hospital after being in the water for more than 30 minutes.
Emergency crews were notified of a possible ice rescue near County Highway N, about a half mile south of Sugar Creek County Park, at 2:28 p.m.
A 58-year-old Kewaunee man driving an ATV was towing an ATV being driven by a 22-year-old Brussels man that had broken down earlier in the day. The pair was returning to shore after a day of fishing when the ATV being driven by the Kewaunee man broke through the ice and he went into the water, according to the sheriff’s department. The Brussels man was able to stay on the ice with his ATV.
A 45-year-old Winneconne man came to assist them and his ATV also broke through the ice and he went into the water.
Officials say the Kewaunee man was the one airlifted to the hospital and the Winneconne man was treated at the scene.
A sheriff’s official told FOX 11 the men are lucky considering the cold temperatures of both the water and air.
The U.S. Coast Guard, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Southern Door Fire Department, Sturgeon Bay Fire Department, Door County Sheriff’s Department and Brussels-Union-Gardner Fire Department responded to the incident.
The sheriff’s official says there was some trouble getting the emergency crews off of the ice due to how thin it is, but everyone was able to get off safely.
Officials remind everyone that no ice is ever 100% safe.
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