Three ice fishermen die after falling through ice in Vermont in separate incidents

Three fishermen died recently after falling through the ice on Lake Champlain in Vermont, authorities said.

On Thursday, Wayne Alexander, of Grand Isle, Vt., went ice fishing shortly before noon and when he failed to return home as expected, a relative went to look for him, Vermont State Police said. The relative found his truck parked in the fishing access at Grand Isle State Park around 8:30 p.m. and notified authorities.

Emergency crews found Alexander, 62, in the water about an hour later. He was taken to the University of Vermont Medical Center in Burlington, where he was pronounced dead, police said in a statement.

On Saturday morning, two ice fishermen fell through the ice on Lake Champlain in South Hero. Shortly after 7 a.m., emergency crews responded to a report that an enclosed utility task vehicle broke through the ice on Keeler Bay with two people inside.

John Fleury, 71, of Williamstown, Vt., was pulled from the water and taken by ambulance to the University of Vermont Medical Center, where he died. His brother, 88-year-old Wayne Fleury of East Montpelier, was found inside the vehicle by a diver and pronounced dead at the scene, State Police said.