Seven on ice fishing excursion are safe; six were rescued from the icy waters
BENSON — On Sunday, March 29, at about 3 p.m., Vermont State Police was notified of several ATVs that had broken through the ice at Benson’s Landing.
Upon arrival at the scene, troopers met with Richard Bain, age 61 of Putnam, N.Y., who informed them he had been ice fishing with family and friends, all from Putnam (Charles D. Bain, Jr., age 40; Charles R. Bain, Sr., age 65; Duncan Bain, age 15; Lillian Bain, age 12; Henry Sears, age 73; and Riley Guay, age 12). Bain said that on their return to shore two of the three ATV’s broke through the ice and eventually sank. Six of the seven people fell into the icy water.
Thanks to a rope, all were eventually able to climb out of the water, but four, who sustained non-life-threatening injuries, including hypothermia, were transported to Rutland Regional Medical Center for evaluation, according to police.
The State Police were assisted by the Castleton Police Department, Vermont Fish & Wildlife, Orwell Fire Department’s Ice Rescue, Benson Fire Department’s Ice Rescue, Putnam Ice Rescue, the Fair Haven Rescue Squad and the Ticonderoga Emergency Squad.
The Vermont State Police urge the public to be cautious when on the ice, as ice conditions can deteriorate quickly with warmer weather.
