Fire chief issues warning about thin ice after West Kelowna rescue

West Kelowna Fire Rescue is warning residents to stay off the lakes after firefighters pulled a man out of Shannon Lake this morning.

Fire crews were called to a report of a middle-aged man who had fallen through the lake's ice today, March 2.

The man was found in the water, roughly 20 feet away from the shore and was hanging on to the edge of the ice, fire chief Jason Broland said in a press release.

Having dressed in specialty suits, eight firefighters attended the rescue and were able to enter the lake and pull the man to safety.

He was transported to Kelowna General Hospital by B.C. Ambulance, Broland said.

With temperatures above 10 Celsius, there should be no doubt that ice season on the valley bottom is over, he said.

People are asked to stay off the lakes as the ice melts.

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