On June 8, 2009 at 6:40 p.m., RCMP Churchill Detachment members received a dispatch call that an unknown intoxicated male wearing runners and no jacket was wailing out on the Churchill River estuary towards the open water.
The adult male individual was reported as sinking and falling into slush but kept on walking across the river equating to a distance of about 1 mile across.
Assisted with binoculars and information from civilian on lookers, RCMP were able to spot the person in question. Cst. Mike Boychuk of the Churchill Detachment, on a snowmobile, managed to get across despite treacherous conditions and was able to reach the intoxicated male.
Things were further complicated when another adult male, in his quest to assist the first one, got stuck with his snowmobile in two feet of slush in the middle of the river and was now walking across.
Out of safety concerns, Cst. Boychuk elected to walk back across the River with both individuals and was met partway by Cpl. Jeff Asmundson and a civilian on snowmobile. Cpl Asmundson and a civilian crossed the river on a snowmobile and then on foot and were able retrieve and dislodge the snowmobile from the water and slush. Cpl Asmundson then met up with Cst Boychuk and escorted the prisoners back to shore to a waiting Ambulance.
Cpl Asmundson and another civilian then crossed the river again to meet with Cst Boychuk to travel together due to rising water from the tides.
Neither individuals suffered any injuries and one was lodged overnight under the Intoxicated Persons Detentions Act.
The area where this occurred is the Churchill River estuary which is a combination of River water and salt water and is at the entrance of Hudson Bay. Spring run off and excessive snow melt combined with the increasing tide levels at the time of the rescue were significant safety risks to all persons involved. Long sunlight days had been deteriorating the ice and holes and shifting ice were definite concerns. Fast water and tide currents would most likely be fatal due to cold water and water speed.
Assistance from the two civilians and their equipment was greatly appreciated by the RCMP.
The intoxication levels of the rescued persons along with potential for hypothermia and time due to increasing water levels were all safety concerns during the rescue.
Cpl Jeffrey Asmundson
RCMP Churchill Detachment
(204) 675-2551
