Ice skater, 72, dies after group falls through ice at California reservoir

A 72-year-old man has died after a group of skaters fell through ice on a northern California reservoir, officials said.

William Smallfield’s body was recovered on Sunday from the Stampede Reservoir, which is about 45 minutes north of Lake Tahoe, Sierra County Sheriff’s Office said on Monday.

The victim was one of eight people skating on the reservoir on Saturday afternoon when the ice cracked and six of them plunged into the water.

Two of the skaters helped the others out of the water, but Mr Smallfield, of Truckee, was far from the group and was seen going underwater, officials said.

Rescuers were unable to find his body on Saturday but, as extra teams were brought in, he was found and then identified on Monday.

Another ice skater was airlifted to hospital with a dislocated shoulder and released on Saturday.

Following the incident, Truckee Meadows Fire and Rescue asked people to stay clear of the ice because of unsafe conditions.

Spokesman for the service Adam Mayberry told the Reno Gazette Journal: “The message here is simple – stay off the ice. Our weather fluctuates too much and is too inconsistent to ever deem for safe conditions on ponds or lakes.”

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