Kelowna

Full report by Castanet's Kelly Hayes 

Update: Divers have recovered the body of a man who fell through the ice on Wood Lake Wednesday. The body was recovered at a depth of 40 feet,  approximately in the same area where he fell through earlier in the day and at roughly 20 metres from the shore. The identity of the man is still unknown at this timeThe identity of the man is still unknown at this timeThe Thetheiasdfaf

The identity of the man is still unknown at this time.

Cst Kris Clark of the Kelowna RCMP says the BC Ambulance Service and Lake Country Fire Department were on scene, but the man could not be immediately retrieved.

"The Lake Country Fire Department ice rescue team attempted to locate the man, but their search produced negative results. RCMP Air Services Air 3 (helicopter) was also on hand to assist in the search. After several hours, the man is presumed to have drowned."

RCMP Dive Team members are on their way to attempt an underwater recovery. There is no information at this time as to the identity of the man.

One of the ice fishermen who spoke with the victim prior to the incident says he warned the man not to go further south. According to the fisherman the victim ignored the warning, saying his bike would distribute his weight over the ice.

The ice fisherman also says the man had fishing gear with him.

Clark says police are taking this time to remind people to never walk on ice that is less than 10 cm thick and to never drive on ice that is less than 30 cm think.

"When in doubt, don’t do it. A cold water suit and safety vest are highly recommended.
 
Beware of ice near the inlet and outlet of streams. Always be extra cautious on river and stream ice. Ice can vary in thickness and strength from area to area because of temperature, water current, springs, snow cover, and time of year."

More ice safety tips can be found online at www.lifesaving.bc.ca

Highway 97 near Wood Lake is now open for two way traffic. The highway was down to a single lane as rescue crews attempted to find a man who was seen falling through the ice Wednesday morning.

Rescue officials are now fearing the worst for for a man who fell through the ice on Wood Lake Wednesday morning.

They have called off rescue efforts from above and are now awaiting the arrival of a dive team to do an underwater search.

Officials decided to call off the surface search on top of the ice after conferring with an emergency doctor at Kelowna General Hospital.

The Physician indicated that there is no chance of resuscitation after being in the water for so long.

The identity of the man is still unknown.

The incident occurred about 10:30 a.m.

According to witnesses, a man was riding his bike on Highway 97 when he went onto the ice and talked with some ice fisherman who were set up near the edge of the lake.

The man continued on his way down the lake on his bike when he broke through the ice.

There is no sign of the bike or the man.

Officials at the scene say the lake level is in excess of 10 feet in depth where the man went through.

Rescue crews chopped through the ice in an attempt to locate him.

The RCMP helicopter made a brief pass over the area to aid rescuers.

This is the second time someone has gone through the ice on Wood Lake in recent weeks.

Two weeks ago, a 51-year-old Kelowna man broke through the ice about 25 feet from shore.

Fortunately for him, he was carrying a belly boat as a safety measure which prevented him from being completely submerged.

More details to come.

Ice Rescue

Photo: Kelly Hayes - Castanet

Photo: Kelly Hayes - Castanet

Photo: Kelly Hayes - Castanet

Photo: Kelly Hayes - Castanet

Photo: Kelly Hayes - Castanet

Photo: Kelly Hayes - Castanet

Photo: Kelly Hayes

Photo: Kelly Hayes

Photo: Kelly Hayes

Divers prepare to search for body

Photo: Kelly Hayes

The victim's bicycle

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