Two ice fishermen rescued in Port Barrington

Two ice fishermen were rescued Wednesday afternoon about 50 feet from shore in a Fox River channel in Port Barrington.

Wauconda Fire District personnel responding to the 400 block of Riverside Lane just after 1 p.m. found the two men in the water calling for help.

The men had been walking onto the ice to fish when the ice gave way, according to Mike DaValle, division chief and public information officer.

Both men were removed from the water within six minutes and taken in stable condition to Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital in Barrington with cold exposure symptoms, he added.

Several fire departments initially were dispatched to assist but most returned before arriving. Lake Zurich firefighters assisted and the Nunda Rural Fire Protection District provided ambulance coverage until all Wauconda units returned to service.

DaValle said no ice is ever completely safe and that recent temperature fluctuations and warm weather significantly weaken ice conditions even when the surface appears solid.

The public should avoid venturing onto area lakes and rivers during unstable conditions, he added.