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Quebec’s Snowmobile Association is asking riders to be prudent following the death of a 45-year-old Baie-Comeau man.
On Saturday four men rode across a frozen lake to head to a chalet in Godbout, on the North Shore of the Gulf of St. Lawrence.
But the lake was not as solid as they thought, and only one man made it safely across.
When he arrived at the chalet, he realized he was alone, so he doubled back and found two men whose snowmobiles had plunged through the ice.
He rescued the pair, who were taken to hospital for treatment.
On Sunday divers from the Surete du Quebec retrieved the body of the third man, who had drowned.
The association says that snowmobile riders should inspect ice before they ride across it, and ensure that it is at least 15 centimetres thick.
Any thinner, and the ice is not strong enough to support the weight of a vehicle and rider.
The group also recommends all riders carry ice picks to help them climb out if they end up going through ice.
In addition, they suggest never riding over a river, since the moving water can easily melt ice under the surface.
Drowning is the leading killer of snowmobilers.
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