MISHKEEGOGAMANG – The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) Pickle Lake detachment is investigating a suspected drowning at July Falls.
Pickle Lake Detachment responded to a call at approximately 2:00 p.m. on April 29, 2022. It was reported that an individual had fallen through the ice. OPP and Pickle Lake Ambulance attended the scene and attempted life saving measures. Gordon Wassaykeesic, a 61 year old from Mishkeegogamang Ojibway First Nation, was pronounced dead at the scene.
OPP are reminding members of the public that no ice is safe ice. Ice thickness can depend on many factors, including:
- size of the body of water;
- movement of the water, including currents and tides;
- current temperatures / recent and upcoming temperature fluctuations;
- fluctuations in water levels;
- the chemical composition of the water; and,
- depth of the water under the ice.
