On January 26, 2014, shortly after 2:30pm, Sprague RCMP were advised that a 20-year-old male and a 20-year-old female had not returned as scheduled from ice fishing and snowmobiling on Lake of the Woods.
Police say that the male and female were in a party of four, utilizing one snowmobile to travel to their ice hut, approximately 11 kilometres east of Birch Point. The couple had departed to return to their vehicle at approximately 11:30am and when the male did not return to pick up the remaining members of the party, they flagged down a passing snowmobiler to get a ride to their vehicle at which time they noted the couple had not returned to their vehicle. The couple did not have a GPS and due to blowing conditions prevalent at the time, there was little to no visibility.
Civil Air Search and Rescue Association (CASARA), Office of the Fire Commissioner, Search and Rescue Manitoba (SARMAN), Manitoba Conservation, local volunteers, Sprague and Steinbach RCMP and RCMP Search and Rescue commenced a search at daybreak, however at 10am, police were advised that the couple were located in Roosevelt, Minnesota.
The couple had become disoriented and travelled approximately 40 kilometres where their snowmobile broke down. They were able to start a fire and spend the day and night in the bush. In the morning, the male walked to a residence where he was able to make contact with his father’s employer, who advised police.
RCMP report that the couple was transported to the hospital in Roseau, Minnesota, where it is reported that the male is being treated for frostbite.
