2 men dead after falling through ice in Agassiz, B.C.
Bodies were recovered when pair didn't return from fishing trip on Tuesday
RCMP in B.C.'s Fraser Valley say two bodies have been recovered from Grace Lake, near Agassiz.
Police were called at 11:16 p.m. PT on Tuesday after two men failed to return from a fishing trip earlier that day.
Search and rescue crews and police arrived at Grace Lake to find a large hole in the ice that was surrounded by fishing gear. Ultimately, the RCMP's Underwater Recovery Team helped recover the men's bodies.
Police say they don't believe there is a criminal element to their investigation.
"This tragedy serves as a stark reminder that ice conditions are constantly changing and even if you've tested the thickness, the weather and water conditions can make it unsafe," said Cpl. Chad Raymond of the Agassiz RCMP.
"We extend our heartfelt condolences to the families and friends of the deceased during this difficult time."
Water safety group the Lifesaving Society says about a third of all drownings in Canada happen between October and May because of thin ice and frigid water.
They say temperature fluctuations below and above freezing can be especially dangerous.
"As temperatures go up and down, it'll sort of freeze a little, melt a little, refreeze a little; this results in what we call 'dirty ice,' and this is very unsafe," said the society's Stephanie Bakalar in a 2023 interview with CBC News following a series of drowning deaths.
She said people should measure the ice's thickness using an auger, a device that allows you to drill down and take a sample core of the ice.
It needs to be at least 10 centimetres thick to carry the weight of a single person, she said, and thicker if there are more people.