Men who died in Humboldt Lake were trying to rescue cousins: Family

The two men who died Saturday in Humboldt Lake were trying to rescue their relatives who had gone through the ice, a family member says.

According to a Facebook post by Andrew Novecosky, his son Joe and Andrew’s brother Chris died trying to save a woman and two girls who fell through the ice on the lake just south of Humboldt.

“I would like to pay tribute to my brother Chris who gave his life with my son Joe in (an) attempt to rescue his cousins who had fallen through the ice on the lake,” Andrew wrote.

“I love my little brother and have so many special memories of him. I’m consoled knowing as a ‘martyr of service’ that he and Joe are with Jesus and the saints and so many family members who have gone before to heaven.”

The RCMP said Monday that officers were called Saturday at around 2:20 p.m. to a house on Humboldt Lake to assist first responders who had been called after several people reportedly had fallen through the ice into the lake.

Witnesses told police five people were in the water, three of whom could be seen in the open water where the ice near the shore had broken.

Rescuers pulled a woman and two girls out of the water. One of the girls was pronounced dead at the scene, while the other girl and the woman were taken to hospital.

Two men who went into the water after the others didn’t resurface. Their bodies were recovered by police divers on Sunday.

The Saskatchewan Coroners Service confirmed a seven-year-old girl, a 28-year-old man and a 38-year-old man had drowned.

650 CKOM subsequently learned the victims were Joe Novecosky, Chris Novecosky and Ava Novecosky, a Grade 2 student at St. Dominic School in Humboldt.

As of Tuesday afternoon, a GoFundMe page set up in Chris Novecosky’s memory had raised nearly $32,000 of its $40,000 goal.

“Chris died a hero, rescuing others that he loved in a tragic accident,” the GoFundMe page said. “In doing this, he demonstrated the greatest love, laying down his own life for others.”

Andrew Novecosky’s Facebook post said a prayer service for his son and brother is to be held Friday at 7 p.m., with the funeral to be held Saturday at 1 p.m. Both events are to be held at Saskatoon’s Cathedral of the Holy Family.