'Unsafe conditions': Authorities in Vermont suspend 'Ice Fishing Derby' as three men die sliding through ice
BURLINGTON, VERMONT: The weekend's ice fishing competition in northern Vermont was canceled following the death of three men after falling through the ice twice, thus prompting warnings from authorities about "unsafe conditions" brought on by the warmer weather.
In a Facebook message published on Saturday, February 11, before the competition was scheduled to start along Lake Champlain, the authorities of the 43rd Annual Islands Ice Fishing Derby canceled this year's event. The Grand Isle County Sheriff's Office encouraged them to cancel the derby "effective immediately," according to the Facebook post, "because of the condition of the ice," the organizers claimed, as reported by CBS News.
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Why was the Ice fishing tournament canceled?
The news came shortly after the second of two fatal occurrences involving ice fishermen who fell through Lake Champlain's surface and either died at the spot or later died from their wounds, according to authorities. According to the Vermont State Police, the first incident occurred on Thursday, February 9, when Wayne Alexander, 62, slipped through the ice while fishing on a section of the lake in Grand Isle, per reports from MSN.
The Islands Ice Fishing Derby canceled the weekend tournament shortly after the accidents via a Facebook post, stating, "ICE FISHING DERBY CANCELED! The Grand Isle County Sheriff’s Department has issued a request for the Islands Ice Fishing Derby to be cancelled effective immediately, 2/11/2023 due to the condition of the ice." It continued, "All ice anglers are asked to get off the ice. Tickets will be refunded. Contact Martin’s General Store to request your refund."
What happened to the three men?
According to a news statement from the agency, Alexander left his house before 12 pm on that day and was scheduled to return from ice fishing about six hours later. When he failed to show up, a worried relative went looking for him and, at about 8:30 pm discovered his pickup vehicle parked next to a fishing port at Grand Isle State Park, according to state police. He was brought to the University of Vermont Medical Center in Burlington when emergency personnel found him in the water approximately one hour later. Alexander was declared dead at the hospital. They announced on Friday, February 10, that an autopsy would be performed to ascertain the reason and manner of his demise, according to the law enforcement agency
The agency stated that it appeared to be an accident when it was revealed that two men, brothers John Fleury, 71, and Wayne Fleury, 88, had perished in a similar ice fishing tragedy early morning on Saturday, February 11. State police opened an investigation when the Fleury siblings slipped through the ice while ice fishing on a different stretch of Lake Champlain in South Hero, roughly six miles from Grand Isle. At around 7 am, an enclosed UTV that was carrying the men crashed through the surface of the lake, authorities claim.
Wayne Fleury's body was discovered inside the car by a diver where he was pronounced dead, said state police. Emergency personnel retrieved John Fleury from the water, but he subsequently passed away at the University Medical Center in Burlington. Later on Saturday, February 11, afternoon, police stated that their investigation was still underway and that autopsy will be performed to ascertain the causes of death for both individuals.
"First responders reported encountering difficult conditions on Keeler Bay due to the condition of the ice, and the Department of Fish and Wildlife is advising the public to stay off the ice on Lake Champlain this weekend due to unsafe conditions," state police made their initial statement on Saturday, February 11.
'Avoid frozen lakes'
The National Weather Service in Burlington published an advisory, warning people to stay away from frozen lakes in the area "due to considerably above average temperatures", soon after the Islands Ice Fishing Derby postponed the weekend competition.
"Due to well above normal temperatures that the region has experienced over the past 2 months, ice thickness on area lakes and ponds is highly variable," the organization wrote on Facebook. "Ice is never 100% safe. If you don't know, don't go! Stay safe."
Vermont Fish and Wildlife issued a similar warning to CBS affiliate WCAX. After the Saturday, February 11, ice fishing incident, department spokesperson Christopher Herrick told the station, "We really want to encourage people to not go out on the ice." He continued, "Clearly, it's not safe. This is the second event we've had in two days. So ice safety is the most important thing."