February 10, 2021

ICE RESCUE HAS WOMAN PULLED FROM LAKE BY POLICE HELICOPTER

GRAVENHURST — A scary ice rescue this morning near the Muskoka Airport saw a female hiker pulled from a lake and airlifted to hospital along with a couple of OPP officers who suffered water-related injuries.

The OPP say that at 9:15 a.m. police responded after the woman fell through the ice near Campbell’s Road and Gravenhurst Parkway in Bracebridge.

The woman from Keswick said she was out for a walk on Paul’s Lake when she fell through the ice.

Thus beginning a massive emergency rescue involving multiple police ground, air and fire agencies.

Police haven’t determined yet how long she was in the water before the 911 call, but it would have taken at least a half hour for EMS to get to her and befor she was airlifted to safety.

“She wouldn’t have made it without the help,” Bracebridge OPP Const. Taryn Molnar told MuskokaTODAY.com this afternoon.

The officers first on scene quickly requested additional assistance from the OPP Aviation Search and Rescue (SAR), The Snowmobile, All Terrain Vehicle and Vessel Enforcement Team (S.A.V.E), the OPP Emergency Response Team (E.R.T), Muskoka EMS and Gravenhurst Fire Department.

The 33-year-old female was safely extracted from the ice by the OPP helicopter and flown to local South Muskoka Memorial Hospital where she was treated for potential life-threatening injuries.

Two officers also received minor medical attention as a result of the rescue.

Molnar said later that “everyone is OK now.”

And that the woman is safe and being treated in hospital.

A police release says this behaviour not only puts the person in harm’s way, but when first responders are called to an emergency on ice, the rescue efforts are complicated and puts police, firefighters and paramedics lives at risk.

They remind hikers and other outdoor winter recreationists to remember ‘NO ICE IS SAFE ICE.’