Mackinac Island firefighters and the U.S. Coast Guard rescued a man who became stranded on unstable ice about a mile off the Island’s west shore Sunday afternoon in near-whiteout conditions.

According to Mackinac Island Fire Department Chief Jason St. Onge, the department was notified at approximately 4:40 p.m. that a man had become lost on the ice. Fire and EMS crews were immediately dispatched and the United States Coast Guard was notified.

Officials received a phone ping placing the man about a mile offshore. The individual had previously been advised by Deputy Chief Rickley not to venture onto the ice.

Using a translator over the phone, rescuers instructed the man to remain where he was while crews made their way toward him.

Despite weather conditions described by responders as worse than a whiteout, Mackinac Island firefighters Bartholomew Theron Berkshire, Colton Fisher, Adrian Skazalski, Chuck Pereny, Corey Kaminen and Chief St. Onge put on ice rescue gear and began moving out onto the ice.

Progress was extremely slow. Drifting snow was reported to be waist deep and the ice was jagged and difficult to climb over. Shore-based firefighters, Central Dispatch and Mackinac County Emergency Manager Bryce Tracy coordinated tracking of the rescue team as they moved into near zero visibility.

At one point, the stranded man was advised to try moving toward firefighters using his GPS location. Shortly after he began moving, he encountered open water and was unable to continue.

The Coast Guard was notified of the situation. Initial communication indicated they could not reach the man or deploy personnel onto the ice. Shortly afterward, the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Mackinaw reported that the crew could see the individual and would attempt a rescue.

Firefighters were later informed that Coast Guard personnel had successfully removed the man from the ice.

Mackinac Island firefighters then began the difficult walk back to shore. The return trip highlighted the severity of the conditions, with crews taking nearly 40 minutes to travel about 2,000 feet.

Fire officials emphasized that the Straits ice is unpredictable and conditions can change rapidly.