Missing snowmobilers found dead beneath ice near Anahim Lake, B.C.
A pair of snowmobilers who went missing on Feb. 17 were found nearly a week later frozen beneath lake ice in B.C.'s Interior, between Williams Lake and Bella Bella.
Anahim Lake RCMP say the couple, a 65-year-old man and 58-year-old woman from 100 Mile House, went undetected in part because the lake had frozen over after they fell through, concealing cracks in the ice.
The pair were reported missing on Feb. 20, after having not been seen for three days prior.
They were found at Charlotte Lake, which is about 220 kilometres west of Williams Lake, RCMP say.
Police responded to the area, but it was neighbours who had initiated their own search that located the couple beneath the ice, RCMP say. Their bodies were eventually recovered by an RCMP dive team on Feb. 22.
"Variable temperatures significantly increase the risks associated with any activity on frozen lakes or rivers, and we urge everyone to use extreme caution," Anahim Lake RCMP detachment commander Sgt. Scott Clay said in a statement.
"Our thoughts are with the family and friends of the deceased during this difficult time."
SEE ALSO: OPP urges safety as snowmobile season sees multiple fatalities
AdventureSmart, an outdoor education program, recommends checking ice thickness prior to any activity, with a minimum of 12 centimetres recommended for snowmobiling.
The B.C. Coroners Service is investigating the deaths, though police say they don't believe criminality is a factor.
An image from AdventureSmart, a Canadian outdoor accident prevention program, shows recommended ice thickness for various activities. (AdventureSmart)
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This article, written by Andrew Kurjata, was originally published for CBC News.