Emergency crews have located the body of a man who feel through the Kettle River near Grand Forks. The crews, which include personnel from local RCMP, fire department, as well as Nelson Search and Rescue and cold water trained fire fighters, and others, found the body at around 11:10 a.m. after searching for a couple of hours.
UPDATE – RCMP Press Release Dec. 31, 1:03pm –
On Thursday December 31, 2015 RCMP divers and Search and Rescue (SAR) personnel located and recovered the body of a man who had fallen through the ice on the Kettle River on Wednesday, near Grand Forks.
The search for the man who was seen falling through the ice on the Kettle River on Wednesday December 30, 2015 has been completed, with RCMP divers and Search and Rescue locating and recovering the man’s body by midday.
Search efforts saw SAR personnel clearing ice away in the vicinity where the man was last seen. SAR volunteers spotted the man’s body submerged in the river at which time an RCMP diver was able to safely enter the water and recovered the male from a depth of 5.6 meters.
The investigation into the man’s death has now been handed over to BC Coroners Service. Next of Kin notifications have not yet been completed, further media inquiries are to be directed to the BC Coroners Service.
The man fell through the ice yesterday (Wednesday) at approximately 2:45 p.m. A witness spotted the man and called police. RCMP officers arrived on the scene and spotted the man through binoculars and observed the man in the water hanging on to the ice edge. RCMP officers were a distance away when they spotted him and were unable to reach him prior to the man losing his grip and going under. It is unclear why the man was out on the ice, with possible indications that the man may have been taking a short cut across the river.
The identity of the man is unknown. Anyone with information is urged to call Grand Forks RCMP at 250-442-8288.
