Houseboater falls into icy waters on Yellowknife Bay

A manfell into icy waters while canoeing on Yellowknife Bay late Friday afternoon.

Yellowknife emergency responders, including officers withRCMP, ambulance, and the fire departmentblocked off a sectionof School Draw Avenue atthe entrance for the Dettahice road.

Shawn Buckley, told CBChe is a friend of the man who fell into the water. Buckley said the man, a houseboater, told him he was in the water for five minutes before otherhouseboaters were able to reach him in a canoe and help him out.

Buckley said the man isnow doing fine, but would not give his name.

Houseboaters on Yellowknife Bay commonly navigate the water between the shore andtheir homes by canoe. During the early winter freeze-up and spring thaw, this can be particularly challenging because of ice too thin to walk on but too thick to paddle through.

RCMPhave not released any information.

Environment Canada reportedan air temperature of about minus 7 degrees Celsiusat 6 p.m. on Friday.