Selkirk RCMP are reporting that two stranded boaters were recently rescued from a location on Hardmans Lakes, located on the south shore of Lake Winnipeg.
Police say that the two boaters, ages 81 and 59, who were out fishing, advised members that their boat had run aground on a sand dune and that they were unable to free themselves.
RCMP report that two vessels, one from the Selkirk RCMP Detachment and the other from the RCMP Marine unit, were launched in an effort to locate the stranded vessel. Officers noted that the stranded boaters could only say that they were somewhere north of the Netley boat launch when their cell phone died.
Soon after, RCMP contacted the Matlock Fire Department for assistance who provided additional vessels and volunteers to support in the search. After six hours of searching, the stranded boaters were located and safely brought back to shore.
RCMP would like to remind the public for their safety that the minimum safety equipment requirements for a motorized craft, no greater than 6 metres (19’8″) in length, are the following:
- An Appropriately sized Canadian-approved personal flotation device or life jacket for each person on board
- A buoyant heaving line (15 metres in length)
- Manual propelling device or anchor with at least 15 metres of rope, cable or chain
- Bailer or hand pump
- Sound-signaling device
- Navigation lights if the craft is used between sunset and sunrise, or during periods of reduced visibility, i.e. mist and rain
- A class 5BC fire extinguisher for any craft equipped with an inboard motor or fixed fuel tank
- A waterproof flashlight or 3 Canadian-approved flares (Type A, B or C flares)
- A vessel license if your craft is outfitted, even temporarily with any motor of 10 hp (7.5kW) or more
