Two people rescued in northern Manitoba after snowmobile goes through ice

RCMP rescued two people who fell through the ice while snowmobiling in northern Manitoba. (Manitoba RCMP)

Two people were rescued after their snowmobile fell through river ice in very cold weather in Thompson, Man.

RCMP say officers, along with fire and rescue personnel, responded to a call Wednesday night and found a 20-year-old man and 16-year-old girl stranded on pieces of ice, more than six metres from shore.

The snowmobile was partially submerged and the temperature was -21 C.

RCMP say the man had fallen into the river when he tried walking on the ice but was able to pull himself up.

Officers threw their jackets to the pair and a raft was brought in to get them to safety.

The two were taken to hospital as a precaution and later released.

"This was a very dangerous and challenging rescue given the freezing temperatures and time of night it occurred," RCMP Supt. Paul Peddle, district commander of northern Manitoba, said Friday in a press release.

   This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 3, 2025.