Rescuers throw a lifeline to a youth who fell through the ice on Tucelnuit Lake this afternoon. He was pulled to safety and rushed to hospital with undetermined injuries. Photos by Lyonel Doherty
A young male suffered hypothermia after falling through the ice on Tucelnuit Lake this afternoon.
Firefighters, police and ambulance responded to a call regarding a 16-year-old youth that had fallen through the ice at Rotary Beach. At the scene, the boy was very still, hanging on to the edge of a piece of ice. His backpack was beside him.
Rescuers were trying to figure out the safest way to reach the boy. An RCMP officer with a flotation device was trying to reach the victim, but had to abandon the attempt. Another rescuer was on a lake board trying to get close enough to throw a lifeline to the youth, but was unsuccessful. Meanwhile, distraught family members and friends were growing more concerned by the minute.
Firefighters managed to get access to a a canoe and two rescuers were able to throw the lifeline directly at the boy, who was able to grab onto it. He was soon pulled into the canoe and brought to shore, where he was rushed into an awaiting ambulance.
Other than hypothermia, the victim’s condition was undetermined.
The circumstances of how the boy ended up on the ice are unknown.
The youth is pulled into a canoe and taken back to shore.
Firefighters rush the victim to an awaiting ambulance.
