Vermont ice fishing tournament canceled after 3 fishermen die falling through the ice

Two brothers died early Saturday, the day the 43rd annual Islands Ice Fishing Derby was set to launch, after their utility vehicle fell through the ice, police said

An annual ice fishing tournament on Vermont’s Lake Champlain was called off at the last minute over the weekend after three men died when they fell through the ice during “abnormally warm” weather, officials said.

Organizers of the 43rd annual Islands Ice Fishing Derby announced in a Facebook post Saturday morning that the weekend event was being canceled due to “the condition of the ice.”

The event was shut down after the Grand Isle County Sheriff’s Department issued a request for it to be canceled “effective immediately,” they said, as they asked anglers already out on the ice to clear the area.

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“Tickets will be refunded,” they said.

The cancellation came after three people died after falling through the ice, including two brothers who fell through hours before the event was called off, according to the Vermont State Police.

Read more: NBC