Updated Jan. 17 at 3:39 p.m.: The Ontario Provincial Police have confirmed the body recovered from Elbow Lake near Estaire this afternoon is that of missing snowmobiler Ronald Nantais.
The 53-year-old was last seen at 6 p.m. on Jan. 14 before departing on his snowmachine, a black and white 2017 Polaris 600 Switchback, for Elbow Lake, south of the city.
Today, an OPP helicopter flew over the lake and identified an area of open water that showed evidence of a snowmachine having gone through the ice.
Divers with the OPP Underwater Search and Rescue Unit were brought in to search the lake for Nantais. OPP spokesperson Const. Rob Lewis confirmed to Sudbury.com this afternoon that the body recovered was that of Nantais.
Police are warning sledders and anglers that inconsistent winter temperatures have created dangerous ice conditions (thin ice or open water) on most local waterways.
Updated Jan. 17 at 2:51 p.m.: After bringing in the Underwater Search and Rescue Unit, the Nipissing West OPP say they have recovered a body from Elbow Lake this afternoon.
The OPP have not confirmed that it is the body of missing snowmobiler Ronald Nantais, who has been missing since the early evening of Jan. 14.
Nantais was last seen Jan. 14 departing on his snowmachine for the Elbow Lake area.
This afternoon, OPP said they located an area of open water on the lake and evidence of a snowmachine.
Updated Jan. 17 at 2:35 p.m.: Nipissing West OPP have provided an update to the search for missing 53-year-old Sudbury man Ronald Nantais.
Nantais was last seen Jan. 14 at around 6 p.m. before departing for Elbow Lake, south of the city, riding a Polaris Switchback model snowmobile.
“The OPP North East Emergency Response Team (ERT) along with OPP Aviation had been able to locate an area of open water on Elbow Lake with evidence of a snowmobile that had gone through the ice,” OPP said this afternoon.
The OPP Underwater Search and Rescue Unit is being brought in to search for Nantais.
This is a developing story and will be updated as new information becomes available.
