Fishermans "Rescue" Article

From the Port Clinton News Herald" Whats your input...

"CATAWBA ISLAND -- Three fishermen reluctantly returned to shore Wednesday after firefighters and the U.S. Coast Guard attempted to rescue them from what officials called weak, unsafe ice near Catawba Point.


Catawba Island volunteer firefighters boarded a local charter captain's air boat and headed to the men's location near the Miller Boat Line Dock after a U.S. Coast Guard helicopter from the Detroit station circled the area around the fishermen. Firefighters ordered the men to leave the ice, and after some discussion, the fishermen agreed to walk to shore.

"They're stupid to be out there," said Dan Barlow, Catawba Island Volunteer Fire Department chief. "It's very bad ice. There's current that goes through there anyway, and it's always eating at the ice."

Barlow said there were 2 to 3 inches of ice covered in snow in the area where the men were fishing. There was open water near their fishing holes, however, and the air boat got stuck between the cracked ice and water.

As fire chief, Barlow has the authority to forbid people from going out on the ice, Ottawa County Sheriff Bob Bratton said. Barlow said allowing the men to continue fishing could put his firefighters in danger because they would have to rescue them.

If the fishermen had refused to come to shore, they could have been charged with misdemeanor obstructing official business, Bratton said.

The fishermen, however, did not call for help and were not happy to be told to leave the ice. Someone on shore saw the fishermen and called the Coast Guard at 9:30 a.m. to report them, Barlow said.

They pulled ice-fishing sleds filled with buckets, augers and fishing rods to shore and were met by Barlow, firefighters and Catawba Island police.

The fishermen -- who said they were visiting for the day from Portage County -- declined to comment or give their names. The Coast Guard, Marblehead Station, did not have the men's names, Petty Officer Christopher Channels said.

One man confronted Barlow.

"You guys got nothing better to do?" he said. "We didn't do a thing. I've never been rescued."

Catawba Island Police Lt. John Gangway intervened and told the man Barlow and the Coast Guard had implemented a rescue operation to help them and keep them safe.

The rescue operation was the first the agencies have handled this winter, and it was over by 10:30 a.m."

Pic and site reference- http://www.portclintonnewsherald.com/article/20090115/NEWS01/901150305