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A pair of snowmobilers who went missing on Feb. 17 were found nearly a week later frozen beneath lake ice in B.C.’s Interior, between Williams Lake and Bella Bella.
Anahim Lake RCMP say the couple, a 65-year-old man and 58-year-old woman from 100 Mile House, went undetected in part because the lake had frozen over after they fell through, concealing cracks in the ice.
The pair were reported missing on Feb. 20, after having not been seen for three days prior.
They were found at Charlotte Lake, which is about 220 kilometres west of Williams Lake, RCMP say.
As police went to the area, police said neighbours initiated their own search and located the couple beneath the ice. Their bodies were eventually recovered by an RCMP dive team on Feb. 22.
“Variable temperatures significantly increase the risks associated with any activity on frozen lakes or rivers, and we urge everyone to use extreme caution,” Anahim Lake RCMP detachment commander Sgt. Scott Clay said in a statement.
“Our thoughts are with the family and friends of the deceased during this difficult time.“
AdventureSmart, an outdoor education program, recommends checking ice thickness prior to any activity, with a minimum of 12 centimetres recommended for snowmobiling.
The B.C. Coroners Service is investigating the deaths, though police say they don’t believe criminality is a factor.
