It's a cautionary tale on why it's important to check ice conditions every time you go out on it.

The texture of thin ice with cracks and bits of snow
Parsadanov
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A pair of men who were traveling in an ATV, when it broke through the ice into freezing waters, are safe today, after being rescued by a Sheriff's Deputy and a Game Warden.

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Mark Latti, Communications Director for the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife says the pair broke through the ice in Searsmont just after 10 AM Sunday morning.

"At approximately 10:30 yesterday morning, two men were driving their Can Am 1000 UTV on the ice on Bartlett Stream near 191 Belfast Augusta Road in Searsmont when they broke through the ice in an area where they snowmobiled over two days earlier."

ATV Through Ice, Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife
ATV Through Ice, Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife
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"The operator immediately called a friend who was ice fishing nearby, who rushed to the scene, and then called his former wife who then called 911. Game Warden Corporal Chris Dyer was en route to a snowmobile crash in Palermo but turned around to respond to the emergency.

Dyer arrived on the scene at 10:50 and found the two men standing on top of the ATV, waist-deep in the water. Waldo County Deputy Travis Spencer soon arrived on scene, and Dyer and Spencer were able to throw a lifejacket and rope to the pair, and pull them from the ATV through the water and to safety."

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eugenesergeev
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We're told the two men were hypothermic having spent over half an hour in the freezing water. Thankfully, they were treated by rescue personnel from the Searsmont Fire Department and released to their own homes afterward.

Dyer urged people to get in the habit of checking ice conditions daily, even if they've already checked it earlier in the week or weekend.

Dangerous Area: Thin Ice
Bryan Sikora
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“Ice conditions can change quickly, particularly on waters where there is any type of current,” said Game Warden Corporal Chris Dyer. “Be careful and check the ice before venturing out onto the ice.”

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