DJI Drone Finds Couple After Ice Rescue on Saginaw Bay

A DJI Matrice 400 drone equipped with a dual payload played a decisive role in rescuing two people who fell through the ice on Saginaw Bay Wednesday evening, after their snowmobile broke through more than a mile from shore, as reported by ABC12.

Emergency crews from the Standish Area Fire Authority were dispatched to the scene and immediately faced a familiar winter rescue problem, distance, fading light, and limited time. The victims were approximately 1.3 miles offshore, a range where visual searches from land become slow and unreliable.

Using the Matrice 400’s dual payload setup, combining a standard visual camera with thermal imaging, responders were able to quickly locate the man and woman clinging to the ice. The drone cut critical minutes off the search and allowed crews to focus on extraction rather than guesswork.

Fire Chief Mitch Oliver described the pressure responders feel in these situations, emphasizing that delays in icy water rescues are often fatal.

Local Responders Fill the Coast Guard Gap

The rescue also highlighted a growing operational reality along parts of the Great Lakes. The U.S. Coast Guard has reduced its hours in the region, leaving local fire departments to handle emergencies that were once supported by nearby federal assets.

According to Oliver, Coast Guard assistance now often requires a helicopter response from Detroit or Traverse City, significantly increasing response times when every minute matters.

For this rescue, the department deployed a former Coast Guard airboat for the first time, pairing it with real time aerial guidance from the DJI Matrice 400. The drone guided crews directly to the victims’ location, allowing two firefighters wearing specialized cold water rescue suits to enter the water while others coordinated from the ice.

Training officer John Kernstock said the victims had been in the water for roughly an hour and a half by the time they were reached and were already showing signs of severe fatigue.

Cold Water Survival and a Clear Warning

Despite the extended exposure, both victims survived and were later released from the hospital. Officials credited proper winter clothing for helping slow heat loss and improve their chances.

Fire Chief Oliver reiterated that there is no such thing as safe ice, especially with warmer temperatures expected in the coming days. Ice thickness can change rapidly, even in areas that appear solid from shore.

Emergency responders continue to urge caution for anyone venturing onto frozen lakes and bays, warning that rescue conditions are often far more dangerous than they appear.

DroneXL’s Take

This rescue shows exactly why platforms like the DJI Matrice 400 are becoming essential tools for first responders. With dual payload capability, long range performance, and rapid deployment, drones can replace minutes of blind searching with immediate situational awareness. As Coast Guard coverage becomes more limited and ice conditions grow increasingly unpredictable, drones are no longer optional support gear, they are the difference between recovery and rescue.

Photo credit: ABC12