Man and toddler die after tractor falls through lake ice in Saint-Zénon

A man and a toddler died after a tractor broke through lake ice in Saint-Zénon, prompting fresh warnings about winter safety.

A tight-knit community in the small town of Saint-Zénon, northeast of Montreal, is trying to come to terms with a Christmas tragedy after a man in his 40s and a three-year-old child died when the tractor they were using to clear snow fell through lake ice.

The tractor went down into the frigid water, and there was nothing anyone could do to save them. The incident is a reminder of the dangers of winter ice.

According to Quebec’s Snowmobile Federation, every year a couple of people lose their lives after falling through ice.

“Unfortunately, it does happen more often than we wish,” said Jocelyn Desfossés of the Fédération des clubs de motoneigistes du Québec (FCMQ).

At 11:30 a.m. on Thursday, the bodies were pulled from the lake. The Quebec provincial police (SQ) says police were called Wednesday evening after the accident was witnessed by a family member.

“Unfortunately, when people venture out, and don’t verify beforehand if it’s safe to venture out on the ice,” said Desfossés.

He says it’s important to avoid trails that haven’t been tested or approved.

Volunteers with the federation measure the thickness of the ice. For snowmobiles, that means the ice needs to be at least five to six inches thick to be considered safe.

Quebec’s branch of the Lifesaving Society launched a campaign reminding the public to stay safe, as drowning doesn’t only happen during the summer.

“Every year we have, a most six to eight drowning winter situation,” said Raynald Hawkins, executive director of the Lifesaving Society.

He says if you see someone in the water, call 911 immediately. But if it’s you who fell, there’s a rule to keep in mind.

“Because we have a rule. We call that the 1-10-1,” said Hawkins.

The one-ten-one rule goes like this: take one minute to control your breathing — the shock of the cold can cause hyperventilation.

Then you have about ten minutes to take meaningful action before the cold reduces your strength, so break through as much thin ice as you can and pull yourself out. Then you have one hour before hypothermia becomes critical.

As winter continues, experts say playing it safe could be the difference between a fun ride or a deadly one.