Twenty-three people were rescued from a precarious situation on Georgian Bay after the ice shelf they were standing on broke away from the shoreline near Balmy Beach, north of Owen Sound, Ontario. The incident occurred on Sunday, March 8, 2026, prompting a swift response from the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP), who were alerted to the situation around noon.
Winds and currents rapidly pushed the ice shelf approximately two kilometers away from the shore, and the ice subsequently split into multiple sections, causing some individuals to become partially submerged in the frigid water. The OPP reported that the situation became life-threatening due to the risk of hypothermia.
A coordinated rescue effort involving OPP officers and aviation teams, fire crews, paramedics, the Ministry of Natural Resources, and Ornge air ambulance services was launched. Two OPP helicopters were utilized to airlift all 23 people to safety by approximately 2:30 p. m. Minor injuries, including hypothermia, were reported, but all are expected to make a full recovery. The Cobble Beach Golf Course opened its facilities to provide a staging area for aviation units and triage response. The OPP is urging the public to stay off the ice and avoid the area while emergency crews are at work.
