UPDATE: U.S. Coast Guard rescues 12 people from Saginaw Bay ice floes on St. Patrick's Day

Published: Friday, March 18, 2011, 11:15 AM

By Michael Wayland | The Bay City Times

ESSEXVILLE — A dozen people were rescued by U.S. Coast Guard officials from ice floes on the Saginaw Bay.

Lt. Justin Westmiller, of the U.S. Coast Guard Detroit, said from 7-11 p.m. Thursday crews from theStation Saginaw River, along with three fire departments, assisted with four rescues.

Westmiller said two of the 12 people rescued fell into the water and were sent to a nearby hospital to be treated for hypothermia.

The Coast Guard advises all ice-sport enthusiasts to check the weather prior to going out on the ice and to recognize that warming temperatures can make for extremely unsafe conditions.

“At this point the ice is extremely unsafe," Westmiller said. "We can’t force people to stay off the ice, but we ask that they be extremely extremely cautious and stay off the ice.”
Westmiller said fire departments from the townships of Bangor, Kawkawlin and Pinconning assisted with the rescues.