A chilling discovery unfolded in the Lanaudière region of Quebec, as provincial police recovered the bodies of a man and a young child from the icy depths of Lac Ernest. The tragedy began Wednesday evening, around 6 p.m., when both were reported missing in the small town of St-Zénon.
The pair were working to clear a snow-covered trail alongside the lake when disaster struck. Witnesses reported the tractor they were using lost its footing, tilting precariously before plunging through the fragile ice and into the frigid water below.
A search operation commenced immediately, stretching through the long, dark night. The Sûreté du Québec tirelessly scanned the lake, battling the elements in a desperate attempt to locate the missing individuals.
Late Thursday morning, the search yielded its heartbreaking result. Divers located the tractor submerged beneath the surface, and within it, the bodies of the man and the child. The recovery marked a somber end to the anxious wait.
Authorities have confirmed the man was in his 40s and the child was under five years old. While not father and son, a close familial connection existed between the two, adding another layer of sorrow to the already devastating news.
An investigation is currently underway, focused on understanding the precise sequence of events that led to the accident. However, police have indicated that initial findings suggest no criminal activity was involved, pointing towards a tragic accident as the cause.
The small community of St-Zénon is now grappling with immense grief, mourning the loss of two lives claimed by the unforgiving winter landscape. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the inherent dangers of venturing onto frozen bodies of water.
