Dramatic ice rescue

Photo: Oliver Daily News

An Oliver-area teen was pulled from Tucelnuit Lake after falling through the ice, Thursday.

The Oliver Fire Department was called in to assist B.C. Ambulance and RCMP about 3:30 p.m., according to fire department spokesman Rob Graham.

Firefighters attempted to throw out rope bags to the teen, but they were not long enough to reach him. A member in a dry suit then went out in the water, eventually using a paddle board to try reach the teen.

When that was unsuccessful, two members in lifejackets went out in a canoe and were able to get close enough to throw out a rope bag.

The young man was then pulled in to the canoe and transported by ambulance to hospital.

Graham said ice rescues are uncommon for the department.

"The last one was probably 20 years ago," he said. "It's not something we normally plan for, but we were successful."

Graham said the teen came home from the hospital last night.

His advice to people interested in going out on frozen lakes is to make sure the ice is thick enough to support the weight of a person, whether it be for ice fishing or hockey.

He also suggests not going out on the ice alone.