Missing Red Lake Ice Fisherman found deceased – OPP Remind All of Ice Safety

Nov 22, 2017 @ 11:55

The Red Lake/Ear Falls Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) with the assistance of the OPP North West Region Emergency Response Team (ERT), Lake of the Woods Search and Rescue (LOWSAR) and Ministry of Natural Resources Aviation Services have located the missing ice fisherman.

Patrick Wagner, 64, of Red Lake, was located on Pakwash Lake deceased on November 21, 2017 after not returning from an ice fishing trip on November 20, 2017. The body has been transported to Kenora for a post mortem examination.

The OPP would like to remind people of the following:

• Ice begins to be “safe” at around 4 – 6 inches thickness. Do not even walk on ice 3″ or less in thickness. However, even at a 9″ – 10″ thickness, there may be unforeseen hazards such as a flowing current underneath that is ceaselessly weakening the underside of the ice. In this instance, even the thickness is not a good indicator of safety, as the ice could collapse at any time.

In general, the rules for ice thickness measurements are:

•   3″ (7 cm) (new ice) – KEEP OFF
•   4″ (10 cm) – suitable for ice fishing, cross-country skiing and walking (approx. 200 pounds)
•   5″ (12 cm) – suitable for a single snowmobile or ATV (approx. 800 pounds)
•   8″ – 12″ (20 – 30 cm) – suitable for one car, group of people (approx. 1500 – 2000 pounds)
•   12″ – 15″ (30 – 38 cm) – suitable for a light pickup truck or a van

People should always remember that these measurements do not indicate ice safety in every instance. It is always important to follow safety practices when traveling on the ice including:

• Tell someone your travel plans, route and estimated time of return
• Wear proper gear such as a floater coat and carry survival equipment
• If you don’t know, DON’T GO!

For these and more ice safety tips go to www.opp.ca.

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OPP

The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) provide policing services throughout Ontario. Our officers are responsible for policing over one million square kilometres of land and waterways. They provide frontline policing services to more than 320 Ontario municipalities and patrol over 126,000 kilometres of provincial roadways.

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