2 snowmobilers rescued after breaking through Burntwood River ice
Man, 20, and girl, 16, taken to hospital but later released
Two people fell through the ice while snowmobiling on a northern Manitoba river on New Year's Day.
Thompson RCMP, along with the city's fire and rescue unit, responded to a report of a snowmobile breaching the ice on the Burntwood River shortly after 9 p.m. Wednesday, a news release said Friday.
Officers located two people near the Miles Hart Bridge after they were advised by an RCMP telecommunications operator to turn on a cellphone flashlight to help.
A 20-year-old man and 16-year-old girl were on pieces of ice with water near them, approximately six to nine metres from the shoreline, with the snowmobile partially submerged in the water, police said.
The man had pulled himself to safety after having fallen into the river while trying to walk on the ice, the news release said.
The temperature at the time was –21 C and felt close to –28 with the wind chill, so officers threw their jackets to the two.
A raft was brought in to assist with the rescue.
"This was a very dangerous, and challenging rescue given the freezing temperatures and time of night it occurred," Supt. Paul Peddle, Manitoba north district commander, said in the release.
"The officers responded quickly, along with Thompson Fire, and were all able to work together to bring both occupants to land safely for the best possible outcome."
There were no injuries, but both people were taken to hospital as a precaution and later released.