Vermont ice fishing competition canceled after three men died falling through the ice

An annual Vermont ice fishing competition was called off over the weekend after three men died falling through the ice due to 'abnormally warm' weather. 

Organizers of the 43rd Islands Ice Fishing Derby were forced to cancel the tournament after the three men lost their lives fishing on Lake Champlain. 

The passing of the three men, two of whom were brothers, led to the last-minute cancellation, as the Grand Isle County Sheriff's Department warned all local fishermen to 'get off the ice'. 

Wayne Alexander, 62, was the first angler to perish after he fell through the ice on Thursday evening, according to the Vermont State Police. 

He was then tragically followed by the two brothers two days later, John Fleury, 71, and Wayne Fleury, 88, leading officials to halt the annual contest due to 'the condition of the ice.' 

An annual ice fishing contest on Lake Champlain in Vermont, pictured, was cancelled after three men died falling through the ice

Emergency services rushed to the scene Thursday after reports the first fisherman Wayne Alexander, fell into the lake. The tragedy was repeated two days later as two brothers again fell through the ice

Wayne Alexander, who frequently fished on Lake Champlain, was discovered by local authorities after he failed to return home on time from a trip to the lake. 

He was found in the water wearing a floatation suit, but he was later pronounced dead after being rushed to University of Vermont Medical Center. 

The tragedy was then repeated early Saturday morning, just hours before the annual ice fishing competition, after the two brothers also died when they fell into the freezing waters. 

John and Wayne Fleury plunged through the ice early in the morning after their utility vehicle broke through the lake with them inside.  

Emergency crews attended the scene at around 7:10am, however rescuers were only able to pull John from the water, where he was pronounced dead at the scene.

His older brother Wayne was found a time later inside the vehicle by a rescue diver. 

The three men were reportedly not affiliated with the tournament, however the Islands Ice Fishing Derby subsequently cancelled the competition following the tragedies. 

Competition committee member Gilber Gagner, who also owns an ice fishing equipment store nearby, emphasized the area had 'never seen anything like this.'

'This is craziness,' he told CNN.

Ganger added that the lake recently froze over following months of warm weather, making the ice look deceptively thick while it may not be strong enough to support weight like it has in years past.  

Tributes have poured in for the brothers Wayne, left, and John, right, following the accident. Their cousin Cliff told DailyMail.com they 'found comfort enjoying the outdoors with each other'

Cliff Fleury, the cousin of the two brothers, told Dailymail.com the two were known among the community as outdoorsmen, adding that they 'died doing what they loved.'

'They, like much of our family, grew up hunting and fishing, and were usually found together or with another brother or relative doing so. 

'They are older than me, but for many years I've been told that our whole family was especially close... they had hunted and fished, and found comfort in enjoying the outdoors with each other.

'They both took great pride in taking our families and friends and teaching them the sport. I know this will leave a pretty big void.'

In a tribute posted to the two men following the accident, Cliff added: 'Those two men have probably been on the ice when it's been thinner than it was today and probably many times over and got home safe. 

'They enjoyed fishing and enjoyed fishing together and unfortunately today the ice got em.

'It's what they knew and as brothers have spent many days together doing what they loved together.' 

The Islands Ice Fishing Derby was forced to cancel the contest last minute following the tragedy

The deaths of the three men comes amid unseasonably warm temperatures in the area, leading officials to warn local anglers to avoid fishing on the ice. 

The national Weather Service in Burlington cautioned in a Facebook post on Saturday that the thickness of the ice on lakes in the region would be variable due to the 'well above normal temperatures' seen in the area in recent months. 

'Ice is never 100% safe. If you don’t know, don’t go! Stay safe,' it said. 

The weather service added in a separate post said the Burlington area has recorded its fifth warmest January since 1884, and the hottest in over 70 years. 

Organizers of the ice fishing competition also issued a warning the day before the deaths of the two brothers, advising fishermen not to 'drive any type of motor vehicle on the ice this year.' 

Christpher Herrick, from the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department, told WCAX: 'We really want to encourage people to not go out on the ice. Clearly, it’s not safe. 

'This is the second event we’ve had in two days. So ice safety is the most important thing.'

He added that ice fishing is particularly dangerous because if fishermen fall through the ice, the freezing temperatures can quickly shorten the time they are able to be saved.  

'The water is very cold. It starts impacting your ability to survive very quickly,' he said.

'You lose dexterity, and your own ability to get out if It’s a very fast-moving event.'