The body of a 36-year-old man has been recovered by the RCMP Underwater Recovery Team after going through the ice of a pond near New Bay Road in Grand Falls-Windsor.

Search efforts for the 36-year-old snowmobiler began on Saturday around mid-afternoon. Grand Falls-Windsor RCMP, Exploits Ground Search and Rescue, Bishop’s Falls Fire Department and paramedics were all involved. They were helped by residents in getting to the site, which is said to be a 20-minute snowmobile ride from the roadway.

Police say the 36-year-old man was travelling with another person also on a snowmobile when they became separated. The tracks of the man’s snowmobile led to a hole in the ice.

Search efforts took place until 7:40 p.m. on Saturday night and continued on Sunday until the body was recovered before 4:30 p.m..

The RCMP is urging the public not to venture onto ice-covered bodies of water unless the appropriate safety checks for thickness of the ice have taken place.

Even then, the public should proceed with caution as many variables, including temperature, winds and currents can impact the safety of the ice surface.

The RCMP says no open body of water covered with ice can ever be considered completely safe.

The Exploits Search and Rescue Team are thanking everyone who assisted in the search.

Earlier Story

RCMP confirms that search efforts are continuing today following reports of a man going through the ice on a snowmobile in Grand Falls-Windsor.

Grand Falls-Windsor RCMP responded to a call on Saturday afternoon of reports that a man was believed to have gone through the ice in the area of New Bay Road.

Search efforts took place until about 7:40 p.m. Saturday night and have continued throughout today.

Meanwhile, the Exploits Search and Rescue Group posted to their Facebook Page that there will be a heightened presence of Search and Rescue and RCMP members in the area.

They are asking the public to give them the right of way in the area, respect their tasks and keep away from the area where they are working.