THUNDER BAY – A man has been rescued off the break wall in Thunder Bay Harbour, after pedestrians spotted someone yelling for help on Wednesday morning.
Thunder Bay Fire Rescue crews launched a marine-rescue craft just after 11 a.m. and sped out to the break wall to retrieve the man, who was trapped because of broken-up ice.
“A bystander over by the bandshell heard yelling coming from the break wall. We were out on a call. We responded and quickly located the victim. Another pumper went to the hall and picked up our airboat. It was launched from this site,” said District Chief Richard Lahaye, standing atop the boat launch at Marina Park.
“We responded over to the break wall and retrieved the victim, who was quite hypothermic.”
The man wasn't vocal, but it appears the victim will be OK, Lahaye said.
Paramedics took the man on a stretcher into a waiting ambulance, where he received care.
Lahaye said it's not the time of year to be walking on ice in the harbour, which is illegal to begin with.
"It appears like there's ice all the way to the break wall, but it is broken up just before the break wall and that's why the gentleman, I assume, didn't walk back. There was about a six-foot gap of open water."
Thunder Bay Police were also on scene.
