The U.S. Coast Guard mounted a rescue operation to help 20 people stranded on ice floes about half a mile offshore from Catawba Island Monday morning.
Authorities said they were notified about the nearly two dozen stranded people around 10:21 a.m.
A Coast Guard helicopter, three airboats and an ATV responded to the scene.
Authorities said everyone was safe and accounted for by 12:41 p.m.
The Coast Guard said it rescued nine people, the Put-in-Bay Fire Department rescued four, and the seven other people self-rescued themselves in their own airboat.
What's an ice floe?
According to the Coast Guard, "an ice floe is a floating sheet of ice that has broken off from a larger ice formation. These can be unpredictable and dangerous, especially in areas subject to winds or currents, leading to drift into open waters. The public is urged to exercise caution and stay away from the area. Updates will be provided as the situation develops."
Have these rescue operations happened before?
The Coast Guard has been called out multiple times over the years for people stranded on ice in the same area.
In 2016, two people were rescued. In 2019, dozens of ice fishermen were rescued. And in 2022, 18 people had to be rescued.
RELATED: Coast Guard, good Samaritan rush to rescue 18 stuck on Lake Erie ice
You can watch coverage from the 2022 rescue in the player below:
