Provincial Police have recovered the body of a missing angler in the Ear Falls area.
Police say 64-year-old Patrick Wagner of Red Lake was located on Pakwash Lake Tuesday after being reported missing from a Sunday ice fishing trip on Monday.
The body has been transported to Kenora for a post mortem examination.
OPP remind the public that ice begins to be safe at around four to six inches.
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.
