A 68-year-old Hamilton man has died after falling through the ice at a Norfolk County conservation area.

Emergency crews were called to the Waterford North conservation area, off Concession 8, around 5 p.m. Saturday evening, after receiving reports of two people falling through the ice.

The Hamilton man had been ice fishing on the pond, police say, roughly 80 metres from shore, when he fell through, into roughly 15 feet-deep water. A nine-year-old Burlington boy who was with him, skating, attempted to save him and also fell in.

Bystanders who witnessed the pair go through the ice raced over to help. They were able to pull the boy out before emergency crews arrived, but were unable to rescue the older man.

A search was launched, but wasn't until Sunday, just after noon, that the OPP's underwater search and recovery unit was able to recover the man's body.

Jani Daliyanazlou, 68, was pronounced dead on scene.

On Sunday afternoon, OPP Const. Ed Sanchuk said that both the family of the man and the boy – who he belived were an uncle and nephew – as well as the bystanders who'd tried to save the man were distraught.

Sanchuk commended those "courageous" strangers who stepped up to help — and saved a child's life.

"They put themselves in jeopardy to save this young man," he said.

There were several drownings across the province this weekend, Sanchuk said. With the nice weather, he said it seemed like tempting conditions for a day outdoors.

"Ice is very deceiving," he warned.

"It might look thick but in reality it could be very thin."

As temperatures climbed above 13 C Saturday, Hamilton Police also issued a warning about the dangers of thin ice — and cautioned people to keep off.

"The ice on our numerous waterways, particularly in the harbour and bay areas, are not safe for walking and other recreational activities," Nancy Lantz wrote in a cautionary media release Saturday.

On Friday, a 67-year-old Hamilton man was taken to hospital after falling through the ice on Lake Jojo in Dundas. He'd been out skating, alone, and fell through. Waist-deep in water, he was able to use his cellphone to call police.

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If you are going out on the ice, Sanchuk advises to wear a life-jacket or personal flotation device.

"Unfortunately when you're going ice fishing you might not think to wear a life-jacket. But that may have saved this man's life," he said.