|
Here is the article in the Belleville Intelligencer.
Ice fisherman found off shore of Big Island
By Bruce Bell
Local News - Tuesday, February 28, 2006 @ 10:00
BIG ISLAND Police here have recovered the body of an avid Picton outdoorsman, who is believed to have drowned while ice fishing on the weekend.
Ontario Provincial Police divers pulled the body of 40-year-old James Minaker from two metres of water off the north shore of Big Island Monday morning.
OPP were called by family members at 11 p.m. Saturday after Minaker failed to return from a day of ice fishing. After receiving the call, an OPP officer discovered Minaker’s vehicle at Robinson’s Cove on North Shore Road just before midnight.
Members of the OPP Emergency Response Team (ERT) and 424 Search and Rescue Squadron from 8 Wing Trenton responded to the scene and, after finding no trace of the man, the OPP’s own search and rescue helicopter was summoned early Sunday morning.
The search and rescue helicopter spent two hours in darkness Sunday morning, hovering over the ice in an effort to locate the man while occasionally landing to interview fishermen in nearby huts. Meanwhile, members of the ERT also battled darkness and blowing snow while searching the surrounding land including a nearby marsh and point.
“It was less than ideal conditions almost a blizzard out on the ice,” said OPP Const. Sean Guscott. “We completed a search of the entire area including both on shore and on the ice and after some of his gear was discovered Sunday, the (OPP) Underwater Search and Recovery Unit, out of Gravenhurst, was called in.”
A minnow bucket was spotted near a pressure crack approximately 100 metres from shore and upon investigation, another pail bearing the victim’s name and fishing gear was discovered below the surface of the ice.
Although divers arrived on scene late Sunday, it was determined conditions were unsafe due to poor visibility and blowing snow and the dive was postponed until Monday morning.
As a dozen family members and friends kept vigil along the shore, an OPP diver entered the water just after 9:30 a.m. and discovered Minaker’s body a few minutes later.
Described as a non-swimmer by family members, Frank Minaker said his brother was both an avid fisherman and hunter. He was employed at Midtown Meats in Wellington and lived in Picton with his wife Shirley.
_________________ Dan Elliot - A bad day on Quinte is better than a good day at work !!! http://www.quintefishing.com
|
Login
Register
FAQ
Search
