Two snowmobilers are dead after their snowmobiles entered the water of Jack Lake, just south of the village of Apsley, Ont.
The bodies belong to 76-year-old Gerald White and 69-year-old Patricia White of Toronto.
“The deceased were at a Christmas dinner at a neighbour’s cottage,” said OPP Const. Joe Ayotte.
WATCH: Fluctuating temperatures causing ice safety risk
According to Peterborough County OPP, the couple was last seen at 11 p.m. that night when they left the dinner to snowmobile back to their cottage.
Their bodies were located Wednesday around 10 a.m. about 30 feet from the shore, where they were pronounced dead at the scene.
“Peterborough OPP emergency services were contacted. The bodies were recovered and have been sent to Toronto for a post-mortem,” said Ayotte.
OPP are advising all snowmobilers to avoid driving on lakes and rivers because it’s not cold enough for bodies of water to be completely frozen yet.
“It does have to be substantially colder,” said Ayotte.
“If you do have to travel on the water, always check the thickness of the ice first, wear a floater suit, bring ice picks with you and make sure they are accessible. We’re just asking people to remain off the water until the local snowmobile clubs can stake them out.”
The Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs shows that almost all trails are currently unsafe for travel.
The OPP adds that this is common for this time of year, and most snowmobile trails aren’t safely accessible until mid-January.
Comments