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The US Coast Guard rescued a 55-year-old snowmobile that was stuck in loose ice near Mackinac Island, Michigan, on Sunday after it went missing in icy conditions, officials said.
The man was found about a kilometer west of Sunset Rock after authorities received a distress signal and coordinated a multi-agency effort involving local first responders and Coast Guard personnel.
According to Mackinac Island Fire Department (MIFD) chief Jason St. Onge, this person had been previously warned not to go on the ice in Lake Huron but tried to cross anyway.
Rescuers said conditions were tricky, with drifting snow, jagged snow and poor visibility delaying efforts to reach the man.
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A snowman stands stuck on drifting ice on Lake Huron near Mackinac Island, Michigan, Sunday, March 15, 2026. (Lt. William Erekson/US Coast Guard)
“The victim has been advised to follow the GPS to start looking for the firefighters who are advancing. Unfortunately, after the man told us that he was moving, he entered the open water and was unable to continue,” said St. Onge writes on Facebook.
The Coastal icebreaker, Cutter Mackinaw (WLBB-30), was diverted to the scene and eventually spotted the man before sending a rescue team to the ice.
The man and his car in the snow were brought into the ship, where he received medical attention and is reported to be in a satisfactory condition.
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A member of the US Coast Guard assigned to the Coast Guard Cutter Mackinaw (WLBB 30) helps lift a vehicle from the ice off the ice near Mackinac Island, Michigan, on March 15, 2026. (Lt. William Erekson/US Coast Guard)
Video of the rescue shows a Cutter Mackinaw crane lifting the car out of the ice, removing a chunk of drifting ice as the slab crumpled beneath it before the car was safely lifted off the ship.
“Today's response was a great team effort to save a person in distress,” said Lt. William Erekson, assistant chief operating in Mackinaw. “All hands played a critical role, challenging ice rescue deployments in severe weather, seamless ship execution, and excellent coordination with Coast Guard Sector Northern Great Lakes; this case is a powerful reminder that when lives are on the line, the Coast Guard is ready to respond.”
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Members of the US Coast Guard ice rescue team assigned to the Coast Guard Cutter Mackinaw (WLBB 30) help a person to safety from the cutter during a rescue near Mackinac Island, Michigan, March 15, 2026. (Lt. William Erekson/US Coast Guard)
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MIFD Chief St. Onge said it took firefighters about 40 minutes to walk 2,000 meters back to shore due to the extreme conditions.
“Snow is not a joke, it's not an inland lake or a mill pond, conditions can change every minute,” he wrote on social media. “No company permits the snow and no one is responsible for its safety or security. Each trip is AT YOUR OWN RISK. This time it was at the risk of first responders.”
