Border guards help over 20 stranded ice fishermen to shore
Just two days after loosening restrictions on the ice, East Prefecture border guards conducted a rescue mission on Lake Peipus yesterday morning, bringing to shore fishermen who were stranded on the frozen lake by a breakup in the ice.
In light of quickly changing weather conditions, a ban was placed on going on the ice in the East Prefecture region of Lake Peipus early yesterday morning. As many fishermen were already out on the ice by the time the ban was imposed, police and border guard immediately began working to direct them back to shore.
At approximately 9:15 a.m., seven fishermen contacted emergency services and reported that they were stuck on the ice and could not reach the shore. A border guard hovercraft dispatched in response rescued the seven men and delivered them safely to shore.
In addition to two border guard hovercrafts, four police patrols, rescue services, and paramedics were involved in the rescue operation. A helicopter was also deployed to ensure that no one remained out on the ice.
A total of 27 people were brought to shore via hovercraft; an additional 103 fishermen made it to shore on their own under officials’ direction.
“Thanks to the fact that we began directing fishermen to shore in the morning already, we did not encounter a single life-threatening on the ice on Lake Peipus today,” said Indrek Püvi, head of the East Prefecture’s Border Guard Office. “Police and border guards acted quickly and effectively to get all the fisherman safely to shore.”
Püvi added that for their own safety’s sake it is important that fishermen heed the current ice ban.
Editor: Editor: Aili Sarapik