West Kelowna firefighters rescue a man found stranded in Shannon Lake (Photo credit: West Kelowna Fire Rescue)

By Pete McIntyre

ice disappearing

Man found in lake, hanging on edge of ice

Mar 2, 2021 | 2:41 PM

A dangerous incident in West Kelowna should serve as a warning to others.

Crews from West Kelowna Fire Rescue (WKFR) were called this morning to a report of a middle-age man who had fallen through the ice on Shannon Lake.

Fire chief Jason Brolund said eight firefighters responded to the scene.

“They located the male 20 feet offshore in the water, hanging on to the edge of the ice. Having dressed in specialty suits en route to the rescue, firefighters immediately entered the lake and brought the male to safety,” Brolund explained.

The rescued person was taken to Kelowna General Hospital by BC Ambulance.

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“Under the Central Okanagan Regional Rescue program, WKFR firefighters have trained all winter for this type of event and acted quickly and without hesitation to save a life,” Brolund remarked.

The fire chief said two days of temperatures above 10 C should leave no doubt that ice season on the valley’s lower level lakes is over.

“The public is urged to stay off the remaining ice as it quickly disappears,” the chief advised.