Provincial police rescued 23 people who were stranded on an ice shelf that broke away from shore north of Owen Sound.
Grey Bruce OPP responded to reports about the stranded people in Georgian Bay near Balmy Beach just before noon on Sunday.
The group was on ice that separated and travelled roughly two kilometres from shore. Some became partially submerged in the frigid water after the ice shelf split into several sections, OPP said.
Emergency responders including OPP Aviation, OPP Marine Unit, Inter Township Fire Department, Owen Sound Fire Department, Hanover Fire Department, North Bruce Peninsula Fire Department, AirOrnge, Grey County Paramedic Services, Bruce County Paramedic Services, Ministry of Natural Resources, Grey-Bruce OPP, and Wellington County OPP attended the scene.
The Cobble Beach Golf Course opened its facility to allow for a spot for aviation units to land and a space for the needed triage response.
Two helicopters were used to safely airlift the stranded individuals back to shore. All were rescued by 2:30 p.m.
According to police, several of the people suffered from minor injuries including hypothermia, but are expected to make a full recovery.
