Lake Erie: 18 rescued from breakaway floating ice sheet

Image source, Island Air Taxi

Image caption, The stranded group were spotted on the giant floating sheet of ice by a US Coast Guard helicopter

Eighteen people have been rescued after becoming stranded on an ice floe in Lake Erie in Ohio, US.

The group were riding snow mobiles and all terrain vehicles (ATVs) on the frozen lake when the ice sheet broke away near Catawba Island.

Eleven members of the stranded group were rescued by a US Coast Guard helicopter and airboat on Sunday.

Authorities thanked a "good Samaritan" who assisted the remaining seven back to safety in a private airboat.

The group was spotted on the floating sheet of ice by a US Coast Guard helicopter which began its rescue at 13:00 (18:00 GMT) on Sunday.

Emergency services were ready and waiting for them back on dry land, but none of the rescued group required medical assistance.

The US Coast Guard advises those planning recreational trips to the frozen lake to come properly equipped with ice picks or screwdrivers in case they fall through the ice and need to "self-rescue".

"There's no such thing as safe ice, but people can mitigate their risks," said Jeremiah Schiessel of Coast Guard Section Detroit.

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Video caption, This "ice wave" was caused by strong winds in Fort Erie, Canada