The family of a Quebec man who died after falling into lake ice is calling for vigilance as a high number of drownings is expected due to exceptionally mild winter weather.
• Also read: Significant increase in drowning cases in 2023
“There is a message: you should never take risks,” says Jason Burhop.
On December 6th, he lost his only brother, Adrian Burhop, who died while pursuing his passion: cross-country skiing.
Actor and voice actor Adrian Burhop. FACEBOOK PHOTO (FROM ADRIAN BURHOP’S PROFILE)
The actor and voice actor, known for being cautious, decided to cross a lake in Morin-Heights in the Laurentians that he probably thought was pretty frozen over early in the season. For what? This question torments the family.
“He was a truly incredible character. He had many close friends and a strong personality. “He was always the funniest person in the room,” Jason Burhop recalled of his only sibling.
“Higher risk
Jason Burhop's message comes as Quebec currently faces an “increased” risk of drowning for anyone who “does not check the thickness of the ice,” warns Raynald Hawkins, general director of the Life Saving Society.
In his opinion, “the law of numbers” increases the level of risk these days. Many Quebecers stay indoors or engage in outdoor activities during the holidays.
“Our average over the last 10 years is still eight deaths per winter season and here we are already at four and we still have the months of January, February and March,” worries Mr Hawkins.
In Quebec, all regions experienced a milder than normal December, says Environment Canada meteorologist Simon Legault.
“It is logical to assume that the ice is not in the condition it normally is at this time of year. If we have certain habits, we have to be even more vigilant,” he says.
According to the Life Saving Society, at least 7 cm of ice is required for a person to venture onto it, 12 cm for a snowmobile and 20 to 30 cm for a car.
Courtesy of the Rescue Society
At Lake Matagami in Jamésie, northwest Quebec, last week, Julie Stewart had to rescue her son and nephew after they fell into a crevasse while riding a snowmobile in the dark.
“It’s about being vigilant and never exploring the lake in the dark,” she adds.
Tragedies elsewhere in the country
Elsewhere in Canada, waterfront tragedies have increased since the start of the holiday season.
In Ottawa on Wednesday, two teenagers were found dead after falling under the ice of the Rideau River as they prepared to skate on it. This comes from a GofundMe campaign to cover funeral costs for Ahmed Haitham, one of the victims.
Ahmed Haitham is one of two teenagers who died after falling into the Rideau River in Ottawa on Wednesday, December 27, 2023. PHOTO FROM GOFUNDME WEBSITE
Two other events in very similar circumstances in Alberta since the start of the holiday also left four people dead, including three members of the same family, the RCMP has confirmed.
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