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EDMONTON — A Slave Lake, Alta., man's frozen body was found in his backyard 18 hours after he'd been dropped off following a night of heavy drinking at his office Christmas party.

The mercury plunged to about -21 C early Saturday, when the 29-year-old man arrived home.

A friend later found his frozen body in the yard.

“The death of this young man is a tragedy for his family and this community," RCMP Staff Sgt. Roberta McKale said.

“This is the second accidental death in a week related to alcohol consumption in Slave Lake. The frustrating thing is that these deaths could have been prevented."

On Friday, a man died after he fell down stairs while drunk.

Slave Lake is located 250 km north of Edmonton.