The death of a snowmobiler in the Edmonton area on March 30 is a stark reminder of the dangers of riding on partially frozen waterways at this time of year.
“It seems pretty intuitive to me that you wouldn't want to do it,” Larry Gratton, clinical operations manager with Alberta Health Services, told the Gazette, “I get it that people like to do it over a slushy puddle, but on a river? That is definitely not a good idea. That is not recommended at any time.
“With these winters there is just no safe ice in Alberta, except on the curling rinks.”
RCMP officials say a man operating a snowmobile attempted to ride his machine over open water on the Athabasca River. The machine sunk and the man was drowned.
A second man who tried to intervene to save the man is presumed dead.
Recent warm weather in West Central Alberta has made any travel on any partially frozen waterway unsafe, he said.
Gratton noted that alcohol use when operating snowmobiles or ATVs is never a good idea.
“Usually with alcohol and motor sports the risk goes up,” he said.
