GRAND FORKS–A man has fallen through the ice on the Kettle River near Grand Forks.

RCMP were called to the scene on Highway 3, about five kilometres east of Grand Forks at 2:45 Wednesday afternoon.

Using binoculars, they were able to spot a man clinging to the ice edge before observing him lose his grip and slip under the ice.

Cold water recovery trained Fire Department personnel searched for the man with a call made to Nelson Search and Rescue.

The Grand Forks RCMP say the man’s identity isn’t known.

Emergency operations closed the highway near the Riviera Motel for about an hour, but it has since re-opened.

 

2015-12-30 16:13 PST

File # 2015-4424

The Grand Forks RCMP and local Fire Department have attended to the Kettle River area along Hwy 3 near Grand Forks following a report of a man falling through the ice.

At around 2:45 pm, on Wednesday December 30, 2015, the Grand Forks RCMP, Grand Forks Fire Department and BC Ambulance Services received a report of a male falling through the ice on the Kettle River just east of Grand Forks. 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 at this time.  Cold water recovery trained Fire Dept personnel are currently beginning a search for the man with additional resources from Nelson Search and Rescue being called out to assist.

The Grand Forks RCMP are unable at this time to provide details of the man’s description and his identity is unknown at this time.