Tuesday, January 6, 2009

Death prompts ice warning -- By Richard Rolke

Ice fishermen are being warned to be extremely cautious after a tragic incident near Cherryville.

RCMP divers located the body of David Gowing, 57, in Sugar Lake between 2:30 and 3 p.m. Saturday. The Armstrong man was reported missing by his wife Dec. 30.

“They found him right where they expected to — straight down (from the hole in the ice), said Gord Molendyk, RCMP spokesman.

It’s believed that Gowing was ice fishing when he broke through the ice and could not get himself out of the water.

Despite recent cold weather, not all water bodies are completely frozen.

“The ice was thin. The ice didn’t freeze before the snow fell and snow acts as an insulator,” said Molendyk.

As a result, Molendyk is issuing an alert to anyone going on to ice-covered lakes and ponds in the North Okanagan.

“Check the ice and be sure of the conditions before going out on to lakes,” he said.

“On some lakes, there are currents and that creates thin spots.”

Vernon Search and Rescue is insisting that people become aware of ice safety.

“Drill a test hole first not too far from shore,” said Leigh Pearson, search manager.

“Use some common sense and check the ice out first.”

About four inches of blue ice is required to withstand the weight of a person.

“If it’s white ice, it’s not very strong,” said Pearson.

Pearson also believes people should acquire a device that loops rope around their shoulders and has a nail at the end of the rope so it can be attached to the lake surface. If an emergency occurs, then the fisherman can pull himself out.

The other key advice is to never go fishing without a partner.

“You just don’t go out on your own,” said Pearson.

An autopsy will now be done to determine if Gowing died from drowning or hypothermia from the frigid water.

The RCMP and Vernon Search and Rescue received the report of Gowing being missing at 3:30 p.m. Dec. 30.

Within an hour, police had found his truck and snowmobile trailer parked near the Kate Creek forestry service road, next to Sugar Lake. And by 8 p.m, Search and Rescue crews had located the snowmobile 12 kilometres up the road.


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