Carbon monoxide poisoning likely caused deaths of two men in ice fishing tent in northern Alberta

Two men found dead in an ice fishing tent on a lake in northeastern Alberta likely died of carbon monoxide poisoning, RCMP said Tuesday.

Police were alerted on Saturday that two men had been found deceased in a tent in a remote area of Crow Lake Provincial Park. The park is located just off Highway 63, about 130 kilometres south of Fort McMurray, Alta.

RCMP Const. Cory Riggs told CBC that the two deceased men were located by their families after they had stopped responding to messages. 

The victims are a 45-year-old from Fort McMurray, Alta., and a 37-year-old from Labrador City, N.L., RCMP said. Their names were not released.

Based on the preliminary investigation, the cause of death was carbon monoxide poisoning “likely resulting from a heating source used inside the tent,” RCMP said in a release.

Riggs said that one of the heating sources was a fire. 

“I also know that propane was also used to to activate some heating sources as well,” he added.  

Riggs added that further investigation will be needed to confirm what contributed to the deaths. The medical examiner will confirm the final cause of death, RCMP said.

“It seems like it was carbon carbon monoxide poisoning that may have been the cause of death,” Riggs said. 

“So with that, it seems like it was a tragic accident that happened rather than something that’s criminal in nature.”