Snowmobile driver rescued after falling through ice on Winnipeg River

A snowmobiler is lucky to be alive after falling through the Winnipeg River on New Year’s Eve. Harrison Shin has more.

A 32-year-old man was hospitalized Wednesday night after his snowmobile went through the ice on the Winnipeg River.

According to the Lac du Bonnet Fire Department, firefighters were called to a site on the river just south of the town for a report that a snowmobiler had fallen through the ice. The department said the driver was seen clinging to ice at the edge of open water and yelling for help from witnesses on shore.

Chief Earl Simmons told CTV News two rescuers used dry suits and rescue ropes to crawl to the edge of the ice and rescue the man from the water.

“The two rescuers that were crawling out on the ice—it’s quite a dangerous situation, and they put their lives in peril in order to rescue this gentleman,” Simmons said.

Firefighters said he was suffering from hypothermia and they carried him to a nearby home, removed his wet clothing and wrapped him in blankets. He was taken to hospital for further treatment.

Barry Richardson, a Lac du Bonnet resident who lives near the river, sent a video to CTV News showing a helicopter circling around on the river with a spotlight on.

“I knew that there’s only one reason that a helicopter is going to be flying here at night, shining on the ice—somebody is in trouble,” he told CTV News on Friday.

Simmons confirmed the helicopter was a STARS air ambulance waiting at the scene in case the rescued man had to be transferred quickly.

“EMS crew took him by ambulance, so obviously they felt he was stable enough just to go by ground ambulance to a healthcare facility,” he said.

The fire department is warning people to stay off unknown water bodies, especially rivers, noting they often have dangerous currents that don’t allow thick ice to form. Simmons said snowmobilers should stick to approved trails once they’re open to the public.

“We jump in and respond as quickly as we can, but if we can avoid this from happening in the first place—we would really appreciate that.”