A heartfelt plea comes from the man who discovered the tragic scene where an Alberta family lost their lives earlier this week, urging others to avoid venturing onto the ice.
Kelly Pelsma, 39, his wife Laura, 37, and their eight-year-old son Dylan were recovered from Lac Ste. Anne on Tuesday, alongside their submerged UTV side-by-side near the Alexis Bridge.
RCMP Cpl. Troy Savinkoff disclosed that the family, expected at an event on Dec. 23, never arrived, having indicated plans for a short ATV trip from their Lac Ste. Anne cottage.
Martin Junior Lavoie, emotionally impacted as a father, initiated the search on Christmas Day after spotting the family in a neighbor’s video. Discovering a gas can in the water, Lavoie alerted the RCMP, leading to the recovery of the family and their vehicle.
Highlighting the perilous ice conditions, police caution against any ice-related activities due to unseasonably warm weather. The recent incident follows another tragedy where a Calgary man fell through the ice near Mînî Thnî.
Savinkoff underscores the importance of vigilance, emphasizing the thin ice, while Lavoie echoes the sentiment, stressing the danger of ice and the importance of caution, particularly during the holiday season.