Published: 3/14/2003

Iceboating brothers rescued from Lake Erie

SANDUSKY - Two brothers who had been sailing on an iceboat on Lake Erie escaped serious injury last night after their craft fell through the ice, soaking their clothes, Sandusky police said.

Frederick Wright, 53, of Mount Vernon, Ohio, and his brother, Thomas Wright, 47, of Huron, Ohio, were treated at Firelands Hospital.

The pair was sailing about 100 yards off the shore past the Sandusky Yacht Club about 6:45 p.m. when the boat hit a soft spot in the ice and got partially submerged. One brother got out on the ice and the other one was stuck in the boat. It was not clear last night which was which, officers said.

A waiter at the Damon's Restaurant near the yacht club saw the incident and called 911. Fire department rescue teams tethered with ropes and dressed in cold-water suits walked to the scene from the shore and walked the pair to safety. The man on the ice was back to the shore at 7:20 p.m. and his brother made it to safety about 10 minutes later.

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