By Tom Mark

Thin Ice Leads To Rescue

Feb 13, 2018 | 10:44 AM

An incident yesterday at Kal Beach serves as a reminder not everything may be what it seems.

A number of people were skating on Kal Lake just off the beach when a young man fell through.

Pete Wise with Vernon Search and Rescue says another man pulled him out, but he was lucky to be in shallow water with no current.

“He was able to just grab him and pull him up onto the ice and then they wrapped him up in a blanket and they got him into a vehicle, but he was okay. There was nothing the matter with him.”

Wise people have to use common sense at this time of year.

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“This is a thin ice situation and these guys are skating and whatever and all the power to them, but this guy went in. The ice is thin enough for one person to fall through then why are you guys skating in the same area.”

He says the man was very lucky and the man who pulled him out was also lucky he didn’t fall through by walking out to make the rescue.

” What we’d rather have you do is use a jacket, use a pole, a branch, a rope, anything but don’t make physical contact with the guy because he can pull you into the water.”

He says that puts two people in and the risk if both drowning is great.

Wise says the SAR team members are always fully equipped on ice rescues with PFD’s, throw bags, helmets and other protective gear.

He says it’s important that people have a heightened awareness of safety when they’re out on the ice.

Warning signs are expected to go up telling people to stay off the ice.

Wise says Vernon Search and Rescue has already had 10 call outs this year, well ahead of last year at this time.

He notes that with 87 call outs last year, 2017 was a record year.

by Tom Mark