By Canadian Press

One dead, five French tourists missing after snowmobiles break through ice in Quebec

Jan 22, 2020 | 8:41 AM

ST-HENRI-DE-TAILLON, Que. — One person is dead and five tourists from France are missing after a group of snowmobilers plunged through the ice Tuesday night near Quebec’s Lac-Saint-Jean.

Police say the victim — a 42-year-old Quebec man who was serving as a guide to a group of eight tourists from France — died several hours after being admitted to hospital.

A search this morning of the area about 200 kilometres north of Quebec City involves provincial police on snowmobiles, local firefighters and Canadian Armed Forces personnel.

Police divers and a helicopter were expected to join the effort today.

Quebec provincial police were searching the shoreline on Wednesday in case some of the missing made it to shore.

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Provincial police spokesman Sgt. Hugues Beaulieu said a group of tourists and their guide were travelling by snowmobile between St-Henri-de-Taillon and Alma when the ice gave way.

One person was taken to hospital after being pulled from the water by other members of the group, who alerted authorities at around 7:30 p.m.

Rescuers found the guide who later died in hospital. Three other members of the tourist group made it to shore and were treated for hypothermia, but five people remain missing as of Wednesday.

Provincial police say they are assisting the province’s coroner in an investigation.

Beaulieu says the area where the incident occurred is off usual trails where snowmobiles are allowed to operate.

He says provincial police do not recommend snowmobilers go off trail.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 22, 2020.

The Canadian Press