Twenty-three people were rescued after an ice shelf they were on drifted out into Georgian Bay near Owen Sound on Sunday.
Grey Bruce OPP say they received a report just before noon Sunday about a number of people that were left stranded on ice that had split into several sections, and was pushed by wind and currents about two kilometers away from shore.
The OPP Aviation and Marine Unit, firefighters from Owen Sound, Hanover, Northern Bruce Peninsula, paramedics from both Bruce and Grey Counties, and other emergency responders were involved in the rescue effort.
Kevin Fox was one of the people trapped on the ice and shared an account of the incident in a social media post. He says a group set out on Sunday to go ice fishing in Owen Sound, and things took a turn for the worse while they were drilling holes on the east side of the bay.
“I looked at my GPS. We were moving. I turned around and saw waves forming behind us. That’s when it hit me. The ice had broken off and we were drifting out into Georgian Bay,” Fox says in a post.
He says the group tried to make a run towards another side of the bay, but the ice had already separated. A few ended up stuck on a smaller piece of ice, and eventually in the water.
“That’s when the reality of the situation really set in … We honestly thought we were doomed. Some of the guys started making final phone calls to their families,” Fox says in his post. “It’s something I will never forget — seeing grown men crying while saying goodbye to the people they love.”
Thankfully, everyone made it back to shore safely. OPP rescue helicopters arrived and began removing people from the ice.
“Some had fallen in the water, and were clinging to floating slushy sections of ice,” says OPP Const. Craig Soldan. “We retrieved those people first … the others who were on thicker sections of ice were pulled up at the end.”
(image from Owen Sound Police)
“It’s just a situation that could have been far worse,” Soldan continues. “The way the wind was blowing and the waves were actually picking up.”
The OPP say Cobble Beach Golf Course opened their facility up to allow for helicopters and a triage response area.
“By approximately 2:30 p.m., all 23 individuals had been safely airlifted back to shore,” Grey Bruce OPP say in a release. “Minor injuries were reported, including hypothermia. All rescued persons are expected to make a full recovery.”
Const. Soldan adds this incident should serve as a clear example of how bad things can go this time of year on ice, with warming temperatures and high water flow.
“It wasn’t their intention to go out there and have to get rescued. I think at this time of year, something we can safely say is just stay off of it,” Soldan says. “If you see ice, don’t venture out there on foot. Don’t venture out to go ice fishing. It’s unstable. It’s unpredictable. And with all the warming temperatures, it just can’t be trusted.”
OPP helicopters involved in ice rescue near Owen Sound on March 8, 2026. (OPP Facebook image)
*Note: This story was updated from an earlier version to add more information.