Man Rescued After Falling Through Ice While Skating in Hants County

A 70-year-old man is lucky to be alive after falling through ice while skating last week in Hants County. The incident took place at Panuke Lake near Brooklyn, N.S., on Jan. 7. A local resident spotted the man and called emergency services, prompting a swift response from the Brooklyn Volunteer Fire Department.

Bill Hazel, deputy chief of the fire department, emphasized the man’s fortunate outcome, noting that the location of the mishap is not heavily trafficked. The first responders arrived on the scene at approximately 12:55 p.m. and quickly prepared to rescue the man from the icy waters.

Two firefighters ventured onto the lake with an ice rescue sled device, enabling them to safely retrieve the man. Despite spending 40 to 60 minutes in the water, the man was successfully rescued within 11 minutes of the firefighters’ arrival.

The man, described as an experienced Nordic-style skater, encountered a patch of thin ice that gave way beneath him. Hazel explained that the ice where the man fell through was only 2.5 centimetres thick, with varying thickness throughout the lake.

According to Canadian Red Cross guidelines, ice should be at least 15 centimetres thick for solo activities like skating and 20 centimetres thick for group activities or hockey. Clear blue ice, where the depths are visible, is considered the strongest. While the man had equipment to check ice thickness, he did not have a personal flotation device (PFD).

Hazel stressed the importance of ice safety, advising individuals to be aware of ice thickness and equipped with safety gear like PFDs and ice awls for self-rescue. Despite the harrowing ordeal, the man is expected to make a full recovery, as confirmed by Hazel after meeting with him at the fire station.

For more information on ice safety and precautions, visit the Canadian Red Cross website.