A 100 Mile House man died Feb. 3 after falling through thin ice and an open water spot while riding his All Terrain Vehicle on Lac La Hache.
He was retrieved from the water by the local fire department and Search and Rescue, but died shortly after being admitted to the hospital emergency unit. The name of the deceased has not yet been released at the request of the family, said Cpl. Chris Riddle.
Riddle added that the training received by the firemen and the search-and-rescue volunteers "was invaluable in delivering a quick and efficient rescue."
RCMP are advising recreational vehicle riders to be aware that unseasonably mild temperatures have caused many lakes, rivers and streams to thaw early. Those who venture into the wilderness should refrain from driving on water systems, if they are not familiar with the area and the thickness of the ice.
Many readers will recall the tragic story of Fort St. James teens Kora-Lee Prince, 16, and Matthew Karey, 19 who rode their snowmobile into open water on Christmas night, 2004, on Stuart Lake.
Their bodies were found after a two-month underwater search by using high-tech sonar imaging equipment dropped through holes cut in the ice.
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