Mackinac Island Firefighters and Coast Guard Battle to Save Trapped Snowmobiler

A snowmobiler is lucky to be alive after disregarded a safety warning to stay off ice.

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On Sunday, March 15th a man who asked about going out on the ice with his snowmobile was advised by Mackinac Island Deputy Chief Rickley to not go out because of how dangerous it was.

But like many rescue stories, this guy didn't listen and almost lost his life in the process.

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Around 4:40pm the Mackinac Island Fire Department was notified of a man being lost on the ice in whiteout conditions.

The department suited up and began to try and make their way to the man by walking on the ice that had snow drifts up to waist level and ice that was sharp and jagged, taking rescuers 40 minutes to walk 2,000 feet.

The man was told to follow his GPS to the firefighters but as he began heading that way he became stranded on the ice with water surrounding him.

Lucky for the man at that moment the USCG Cutter Mackinaw was able to see him and made an attempt to rescue him.

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Mackinac Island Fire Chief Jason St. Onge didn't hold back in statement he made about the incident saying:

The ice is no joke, not an inland lake or a mill pond, conditions can and do change by the minute, Not one entity endorses the ice nor is anyone in charge of its safety or security. Each and every trip is cross at your own risk. In this particular case it was cross at the first responders’ risk. Do us all a favor and stay off the ice.