On July 29, 2012, at about 6:50pm, Bloodvein RCMP members responded to an SOS signal made by a group of girls on a canoe trip.
Police say that a call from the International Emergency Response Coordination Center advised that a Satellite GPS Messenger device registered an emergency signal sent from a wilderness camp. Further information was obtained including GPS coordinates and contact information.
RCMP made contact with the camp and learned that a group of seven girls were out on a canoe trip when an SOS signal was received.
The location was established based on the coordinates provided as being on the Bloodvein River near Namay Falls. Contact was also established with the canoeists via satellite phone. RCMP were advised that one of the canoeist had been struck by lightning.
Police say that daylight was becoming an issue and fortunately a helicopter that was in the area was able to assist on short notice. Assisted with the coordinates, the pilot and two RCMP officers located the group, about 22 miles from Bloodvein, who were waving frantically at the helicopter. By luck, there was enough of a clearing to land safely and get close to the group.
RCMP learned that a 23-year-old Ontario woman was struck by lighting, while a 15-year-old girl received an electric shock while holding on to a canoe as they were pulling the canoe to shore during the storm.
RCMP report that both ladies were conscious and appeared to have suffered minimal injuries under the circumstances. The 23-year-old was airlifted to the Bloodvein Nursing Station and was sent to Winnipeg for further medical treatment for non-life threatening injuries. The other, refused any treatment, claimed she was not injured and remained with the group to carry on with the trip.
