On August 20, 2011, shortly after 5pm, Island Lake RCMP received a cellular call from a 22-year-old woman from St. Theresa Point who advised the she, along with 3 other people, were stranded on an unknown island.
RCMP learned that their boat broke down and drifted to an unknown island. The foursome were reported to be cold and wet but safe on the island. Cellular phone contact was quite poor and the caller had indicated that she was out of minutes. RCMP lost contact with the caller.
Local inquiries with the assistance of Band Constables, both from St. Theresa Point and Garden Hill, confirmed that the foursome, 2 women, ages 20 and 22, along with 2 men, ages 20 and 25, left Garden Hill around noon on August 20 to go to the Northern Store on Stevenson Island and had not been seen since.
Since darkness was fast approaching and temperatures are known to drop at night, RCMP rented a helicopter operating out of Stevenson Island and started the search between Garden Hill and St Theresa Point. After the first pass and nothing found, RCMP contacted MTS (the cellular provider) and with their assistance minutes were added to the cellular phone and officers were then able to make contact again. The foursome were immediately located on an island near St.Theresa Point.
It appears the foursome were heading into St. Theresa Point when the motor broke down and began drifting to a nearby island.
All four were rescued. They were cold and wet but safe and sound. The group was transported home by the local boat taxi service who was also traveling through the area at the time of the rescue.
