South Simcoe Police ice water rescue call

On Monday the 26 March, at approximately 2:25 p.m., South Simcoe Police received a call from a concerned citizen who observed a snowmobiler in distress on Lake Simcoe in Cooks Bay in Innisfil.

The citizen viewed the snowmobiler from his residence in Lefroy and noted the snowmobiler was in heavy slush and water and had stalled out. He notified police by telephone and upon returning to his vantage point he found this subject had disappeared from view. It was unknown if the male had made his way safely to shore or had fallen through the ice. It was described as an orange coloured Arctic Cat.

The Innisfil Fire and Rescue Service attended the scene with South Simcoe Police in search of the subject. It was decided that Innisfil Fire and Rescue - Airboat would be called out to re-trace the snowmobilers path / tracks. Shortly after this another citizen approached police advising that the snowmobiler was able to continue and appeared to be headed towards Keswick, Ontario on the other side of the Lake.

York Regional Police were notified and officers attended their lakeshore area in search of this snowmobiler.

The driver was fortunate enough to cross the ice this time and was located by these officers uninjured. The subsequent interview confirmed this to be one in the same person seen earlier in trouble.

The search and rescue was cancelled at this time.

Sgt. Eeles of the South Simcoe Police - Traffic and Marine Unit is warning all citizens to stay off the ice on Lake Simcoe as mild temperatures and rain are predicted for the rest of the week. This will make the ice conditions very dangerous and unsafe for any type of vehicles or persons on foot. Currently there is open water near shoreline areas .

The lake has numerous water and slushy areas on the surface which is bogging down motorized vehicles and stalling them . If high winds occur there is a good chance for pressure cracks to open up and an ice break up to occur quickly.

Person venturing out onto the Lake are placing their lives in jeopardy and their would be rescuers as well.

These events often lead to serious injuries and sometimes have fatal consequences.