2 people rescued after falling through ice in eastern Ontario

An Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) patch is seen in Ottawa, on Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Spencer Colby (Spencer Colby/The Canadian Press)

Ontario Provincial Police are reminding people that ice on waterways across eastern Ontario is “thin and unpredictable” at this point in the season after two people fell through the ice north of Kingston.

Two men walked onto the ice to go fishing in the area of Gilmour Point Beach, east of Battersea, shortly after 7 p.m. Thursday.

“They both fell through the ice into the cold water but had managed to pull themselves out but were stranded,” Ontario Provincial Police said in a statement.

“Someone in the area heard their cries for help and called to report it.”

Police say firefighters also fell into the water several times while trying to locate the two men.

The OPP Emergency Response Team deployed a remote piloted drone and the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre dispatched aircraft from CFB Trenton’s 424 Search and Rescue Squadron to assist with the search.

“The pair was finally located by the Emergency Response Team’s drone and firefighters about half a kilometre from shore,” police said.

“Firefighters successfully brought them back to land. The pair was transported to hospital to be checked out and were later released.”

Police are asking people to exercise caution around waterways across the region.

“Early-season ice is often dangerously thin and unpredictable. Breaking through the ice and experiencing cold-water immersion can become life-threatening within minutes,” the OPP said.

“Taking unnecessary risks not only endangers those who do it but also puts emergency responders in harm’s way during rescue efforts.”