Crews called to two icy river rescues a couple hours apart

TUSCARAWAS COUNTY (WJER) (Jan. 31, 2022) – First responders were sent out for two separate rescues on the Tuscarawas River Saturday in opposite parts of the county.
There were no injuries in either incident.
Bolivar Firefighter Logan Haley says they had to help two hunters on a boat that became stuck in ice near the 9000 block of Towpath Road Northeast shortly before noon Saturday.
“They were out duck hunting and got some water in their boat. They had hit an ice dam, essentially, that went all the way across the river.”
Haley says Mineral City had a member of the dive team respond, who helped recover the boat and pull the hunters up on shore.
“He baby-crawled across the ice, but he didn’t have to get submerged in the water.”
Haley says it’s a reminder to take precautions when the river is this cold.
“If you’re going out on the water, make sure there’s no breach or anything like that. And tell other people where you are because they didn’t call into 911. I don’t believe they had their cell phones on them.”
Haley says a passerby reported their situation to 911.
Also Saturday, Newcomerstown firefighters were able to help four occupants stranded in a boat on the river near the 15000 block of Johnson Hill Road Southwest at about 2 p.m.

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