It’s a dreaded tragedy as temperatures rise in the spring. On Monday March 22nd, the Huntsville Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police and Emergency Services responded to a call for a man that had gone through the ice on Lake of Bays, near Baxter Lane in Algonquin Highlands Township.
Witnesses say the man had been out on the ice retrieving stakes and was found floating in the water. He was brought to shore and lifesaving measures were performed until EMS arrived. Sadly, a 59-year-old male from Milton, Ontario was not able to be revived and was pronounced deceased. The incident is not deemed suspicious at this time.
OPP are reminding people that every year, needless preventable tragedies occur on our area water and ice surfaces which could have been avoided, and emergency services are counting on you to make that decision to stay OFF the ICE.
Any ice surface user must remember that NO ice is Safe Ice and that any travel on the current water/ice surface conditions, if any ice should even exist, should be wearing proper survival clothing/suit, having a fully charged cell phone along with telling a friend, neighbour, family member or work supervisor of your destination.
According to the Lifesaving Society, approximately 35% of drownings in Canada occur from October to April and snowmobiling and ice accidents account for most of these incidents. To stay safe, check the ice to make sure it’s thick enough and always wear a lifejacket during activities around the water.
Minimum Ice Thickness for:
- a single person – 4 inches (10 cm)
- a snowmobile or ATV – 5 inches (12 cm)
- a single car – 8-12 inches (20-30 cm)
- a vehicle (full-size pick up truck) – 12-15 inches (30-38 cm)
