Safety Alert After Ice Incident in Thunder Bay

THUNDER BAY – NEWS – Thunder Bay Fire Rescue was called to an ice rescue at a local park on May 1, 2026, after bystanders reported hearing cries for help and spotted someone in icy water. This event serves as a reminder that late-season ice in Thunder Bay and throughout Northwestern Ontario can become unstable and hazardous very quickly.

The frigid water can lead to hypothermia in just a few minutes.

Bystanders Contacted 911 After Individual Fell Through Ice

Thunder Bay Fire Rescue reports that several bystanders dialed 911 after hearing someone shout for help and noticing a person submerged in cold water.

Upon arrival, two pumper trucks and a command vehicle were sent to the scene. Firefighters confirmed that the individual had ventured onto the ice, which then collapsed beneath them, plunging them into unstable, slushy water.

Thunder Bay Fire Rescue praised the prompt actions of the witnesses who called for help, stating that their attentiveness and quick response allowed emergency teams to arrive swiftly.

Specialized Ice Rescue Team Reached the Individual

Two primary rescuers donned specialized ice rescue suits and entered the water to reach the person. They were assisted by two additional rescuers who helped secure the victim and bring them safely back to land.

Paramedics provided medical assistance at the site before taking the individual to Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre. The Thunder Bay Police Service also responded and offered support.

Fire Rescue Urges Community to Avoid Ice

The Thunder Bay Fire Rescue is reminding residents that ice conditions are extremely unreliable at this time of year. Warmer weather weakens ice, making surfaces that look solid potentially unsafe for walking.

The community is advised to avoid all ice surfaces during seasonal shifts, particularly near parks, shorelines, rivers, creeks, and inland lakes where currents, runoff, and fluctuating temperatures can make ice unpredictable.

A Local Safety Reminder for Northwestern Ontario

This spring in Thunder Bay and Northwestern Ontario can see visible ice long after it has become unsafe. Fluctuating daytime temperatures, rainfall, snowmelt, and moving waters can compromise ice from above as well as below.

If anyone sees a person or animal in distress on the ice, they should call 911 right away and not attempt to go onto the ice themselves. Emergency responders are trained for cold-water rescues while unprotected bystanders may quickly become victims themselves.

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