Shivering on sheets of shifting ice, dozens of winter anglers found themselves in a frigid predicament on Upper Red Lake in northern Minnesota this Sunday. As CBS News Minnesota reported, approximately 40 to 50 people were stranded when strong winds caused the ice to detach from shore. Beltrami County officials launched a night rescue, battling icy conditions to bring everyone back to safety.
Rescue teams were dispatched as the stranded group waged a battle against the clock and plummeting temperatures. According to a news release obtained by MPR News, the call for help came in just before 5 p.m. Sunday, with first responders working against the northwest winds, which pushed the ice floe even further away, at times extending the watery chasm to a harrowing couple hundred feet.
"Upper Red Lake is a very popular fishing destination, frequently utilized before ice is stable, resulting in the need to rescue people either from falling through the ice or floating on ice floats," said Christopher Muller, Beltrami County's Public Information Officer, in a statement obtained by CBS News Minnesota.
In a dramatic evening fraught with peril, local first responders, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, and others, including the Minnesota State Patrol, joined forces in the rescue. Kelliher, Blackduck, Bemidji first responders, and individuals from local resorts also descended upon the scene, as reported by MPR News. Thanks to their efforts, no injuries were reported.
As the last of the anglers reached the security of dry land by just after 8 p.m. Monday, Beltrami County officials were firm in their warning to those venturing onto the ice: at least four inches of clear, new ice is recommended for walking. They continue to strongly advise caution and urge those in trouble to immediately seek help rather than take personal risks. Last year's event, where over 200 people were similarly rescued, underscores the urgent need for vigilance on the ice—something anglers would be wise to remember as winter’s grip tightens.
