Toronto police are reiterating warnings for individuals to avoid frozen bodies of water following a recent incident involving a teenager who fell through the ice over the weekend. This alarming event occurred on Saturday evening in front of the Toronto Police Marine Unit station located on Queens Quay West.
Witness Jerry Collins was present at Harbourfront during the incident and immediately rushed to assist when he heard shouts for help. He detailed his actions, saying, “I ran out, crawled out the last of the ways to them, was able to hook on them through the shoulder and then got him up to the ice, had him kick as hard as he could, bring his body up to the edge.” Collins succeeded in rescuing the 15-year-old boy, who ultimately managed to return home safely, escaping a potentially life-threatening situation.
This incident marks the second time in just a few days that Toronto police have responded to someone falling through the ice. The previous mishap occurred on Friday, but fortunately, the individual involved was able to extricate themselves without external assistance. These incidents have prompted police to stress the importance of safety and vigilance around frozen water bodies.
According to Sgt. Richard Arsenault from the Toronto Police Marine Unit, the police have been actively deploying resources to discourage people from venturing onto the ice. He emphasized the seriousness of the situation, urging the public, “Don’t put yourself into a situation that you don’t need to be in.” During the weekend incident, reports indicated that around 200 people were on the frozen waters of Harbourfront, casually wandering in areas typically broken by fire boats.
Unfortunately, even after the incidents, people continued to approach the precarious ice on Monday, as observed by CityNews. Sgt. Arsenault explained the unpredictable nature of the ice conditions, stating, “It’s dynamically very different all over the place, depending on current, depending on sunlight.” These variations in the ice can make it particularly dangerous, especially as temperatures are expected to rise in the coming days, further destabilizing the surface.
The immediate danger of falling through ice is underscored by police warnings about the rapid onset of hypothermia and the physical challenges posed by wet clothing, which can quickly weigh a person down, leading to critical situations where seconds could mean the difference between life and death. The urgency of these warnings is amplified by the current lack of laws prohibiting individuals from walking on the ice, leading police to collaborate with the Toronto Port Authority on plans for signage to deter public access to these hazardous areas.
Both law enforcement officials and citizens like Collins hope to enact a change in public perception regarding ice safety. “The old saying is if you don’t know, don’t go,” Collins articulated. He cautioned that ice can be deceptive, breaking underfoot much further from open water than one might assume, thereby reinforcing the message that venturing onto ice is simply not worth the risk.
