Ice Fisherman Rescued in Fairhaven Twp.

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Law enforcement in Huron County, Michigan jumped into action after receiving a 911 call from a lone fisherman who had fallen through the ice while riding his ATV about 1.5 miles offshore of Rose Island in Fairhaven Township. The fisherman was unable to get out of the waist-deep water, but was eventually rescued by deputies and firefighters and transported to receive treatment for mild hypothermia.

Why it matters

This incident highlights the dangers of ice fishing as warmer weather sets in and the ice becomes less reliable. Authorities warn that ice cannot be trusted, and this rescue operation demonstrates the importance of quick response times and proper equipment when emergencies occur on frozen bodies of water.

The details

According to Huron County Sheriff Kelly J. Hanson, the 911 call came in around 8:30 AM on February 20th. Caseville firefighters were dispatched to tow the sheriff's office's airboat to the scene, and deputies along with a Fairhaven Township firefighter were able to locate the fisherman in the water and pull him onto the airboat. The fisherman, a man from the Caro area, had been in the water for around 45 minutes and was exhibiting mild hypothermic conditions, so he was placed in a hypothermic rescue suit before being transported back to shore and turned over to a Sebewaing Ambulance crew for further treatment.

• The 911 call came in around 8:30 AM on February 20, 2026.
• The fisherman had been in the water for around 45 minutes when he was rescued.