Courtesy: Vt. State PoliceNEWPORT CENTER Vt. -
Police Sunday night temporarily suspended their search for the body of a man that fell through the ice on Lake Memphremagog.
Police said the man was reportedly using a tractor Saturday evening to move an ice shanty when the ice collapsed. Search efforts by a State Police Scuba Team, the Newport Center Fire Department and the U.S. Border Patrol continued all day Sunday, but there was no sign of the victim -- whose name is withheld pending the notification of next-of-kin.
"We have the state police dive team and they're under the ice -- they cut a hole in the ice. The divers are under the ice searching around where the tractor is. The temperatures are dipping and that's kind of inhibiting and the waters are very dark and murky and muddy which is inhibiting as well. But the Troopers are well trained and well versed in this kind of thing and are doing the best they can," said Vt. State Police Sgt. Sean Selby.
Police said the tractor is submerged in about 25 feet of water, and the ice shanty is partially submerged. Crews will be back on the scene Monday morning.
State Police said the ice is not safe in many areas because of recent warm weather and they are urging the public to use extreme caution.
