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SnowmobileSinksApril01

Snowmobile Sinks April 2001

April 2001

LAND O'LAKES -NEWS & VIEWS Home

SnowmobileSinksApril01SnowmobileSinksApril01

The submerged snowmobile being dragged to the edge of the ice

The boat, with the snowmobile attached, is pulled up on the ice

SnowmobileSinksApril01SnowmobileSinksApril01

Trying to lift the snowmobile up on the ice.

The snowmobile is finally pulled out of the water and onto the ice.

Snowmobile Sinks to Bottom of Sharbot Lake

By David Brison

On Wednesday April 4, a snowmobile owned and operated by Matt Peters of Parham, stalled as it was running open water in the lower part of Sharbot Lake, about 200 metres east of the narrows on Road #38. Peters, who was not wearing a lifejacket, was able to swim to the edge of the ice and pull himself out. With the help of his friends, he was then able to pull the machine off the bottom of the lake and onto the ice.

Paul Lowery, the chief of the Hinchinbrooke Fire Department, happened to be driving by and saw Peters in the water. He immediately called the Oso District Fire Department, who dispatched their cold water rescue team. The team arrived within minutes, but by then Peters was out of the water.

Lowery is trained in cold water rescue and realized immediately that Peters was in danger. "In water that temperature, hypothermia sets in within four minutes and the body starts to slow down," Lowery said.

The situation also placed Lowery in a conflict situation. "One of the first things we are taught is to not put yourself as a rescuer in danger," Lowery said. He therefore called the rescue team, but did not go out on the ice himself, although several young men who were on the shore did run out to help. The team arrived promptly enough that if Peters had still been in the water, they probably would have been able to rescue him.

Lowery had to go through the mental turmoil of knowing that he shouldnt act by himself, and that not only Peters, but the others who rushed out to help him were in danger.

"They received a tongue-lashing from me, but they didnt think it was a big deal at all. They should realize the situation and danger that they put other people in," said Lowery.

Constable Dave Willis from the Sharbot Lake OPP was aware that snowmobiles had been running the open water. He had talked with them prior to the accident and cautioned them not to do it. However, nothing that they were doing is against the law, and the OPP cant prohibit them from doing it. He is very concerned about snowmobiles running the open water. "This is the fourth snowmobile that has gone to the bottom this year," Willis said. "Hypothermia sets in very quickly, and sooner or later someone will drown."

When this reporter showed up to observe the retrieval of the snowmobile from the bottom of the lake, some of the young men (not Peters) were openly ridiculing the police and Lowery for their comments and concern.

The ice conditions worked to Peters advantage. The ice was thick enough so that it didnt break off at the edge as he was trying to pull himself out. Also, there was slush on top of the ice so that there was some friction for his hands and arms to grab onto.

The retrieval of the machine was also harrowing. Evidently, the machine has to be out of the water within four hours, or the owner can be charged by the Ministry of the Environment. The men worked hard to get it out, and probably put themselves in danger in doing so. Craig Middleton went through the ice in a hole not far from where others had been standing. At one time, there were four men in the rescue boat, three of them standing and only one (Peters) had a lifejacket on. There were enough ropes so that anyone going into the water could probably have been rescued.

Mark Powell, a member of the Oso cold water rescue team, says a reflex takes over when cold water is splashed on the face. "The flow of blood to the arms and legs is shut down, and it is difficult to use them," Powell says. He too is worried about a fatal accident occuring.

In the meantime, the citizens of Central Frontenac can be thankful that the chances of a drowning occurring are somewhat minimized though the dedicated efforts of their volunteer fire departments. They can also rest assured that if young men seem determined to put themselves at risk, at least the firemen called to rescue them are at less of a risk.

It is a fitting reminder during Volunteer Month, of what volunteers, many of them young men themselves, contribute to our community.

With the participation of the Government of Canada