Teen's body recovered after fall through ice on B.C.'s Shuswap Lake

The body of an 18-year-old man has been recovered from Shuswap Lake in British Columbia's Interior after he fell through the ice over the weekend. 

On Sunday, Salmon Arm RCMP said in a statement, police were called to the scene on Shuswap Lake at around 2 p.m. Saturday after a report of a man who had fallen through the ice.

Salmon Arm Search and Rescue, the fire department, and B.C. Emergency Health Services were called to the scene on Saturday to help search for the man. 

Police say the RCMP's underwater recovery team found the teen's body on Monday. 

Staff Sgt. Simon Scott, the Salmon Arm RCMP detachment commander, says the death is a heartbreaking tragedy that has deeply affected the man's family, first responders and the community. 

Scott says changing temperatures and unpredictable ice conditions have made lake ice very dangerous, and they're urging the public to stay off all frozen lakes in the area. 

He says people need to use extreme caution and prioritize safety to prevent another tragedy. 

Rescuer urges caution

Frank Pryce, the vice-president of Kamloops Search and Rescue, said that one of the simplest rules to avoid tragedy around thin ice is to avoid areas that are not specifically designated for skating or on-ice activities.

"In general, we've had a pretty mild winter," he told CBC News.

"So even though that it's really cold right now, and if you look the North Thompson [River] and then the South Thompson, both basically iced over in just a couple days, that does not mean that they're safe at all."

WATCH | How to rescue yourself or others if you fall through ice: 

How to rescue yourself — or someone else — after falling through ice

1 year ago

Duration 4:11

Search and rescue is warning people to be extra cautious around frozen rivers and waterways, with warmer conditions this winter leaving many bodies of water with unstable or weak ice. Danny Peled, an instructor with Boreal River Rescue, shares tips on how to rescue yourself after falling through ice — or someone else.

Pryce says that frozen-over rivers should generally be avoided, as currents could rapidly change the thickness of ice.

The rescuer also says that if someone falls into a water body through thin ice, they should try not to struggle too much to preserve their body's energy stores.

"It seems weird, but wear a life jacket ... over top of your snowsuit, your jacket, your whatever it is," he advised.

"So that if you do fall in, you're not going to go under. Because if you go under, you know, obviously, things get much more complicated."