On April 14, 2010, RCMP Lynn Lake Detachment were called by the Lac Brochet Band Security advising that the family of 29-year-old Brian Denechezhe of Lac Brochet were quite concerned that he had not returned home.
Denechezhe was expected to return from the Community of Brochet, where he was believed to be headed by snowmobile on Monday April 12, 2010.
Despite local inquiries, RCMP members were unable to locate him. On April 15, 2010, the RCMP members with local residents from Brochet and Lac Brochet searched the trails between the two communities by snowmobile without success. Later, in consultation with the RCMP Search and Rescue coordinator, the RCMP Lynn Lake Detachment sought and obtained the assistance of the Civilian Air Search and Rescue Association (CASARA). Aerial search of the areas around Brochet and Lac Brochet were conducted Thursday, Friday and Saturday without success. RCMP members, along with local community members, as well as the 4th Canadian Rangers from Lac Brochet and Wollaston Lake, SK, continued ground search by snowmobile to no avail.
On Sunday, April 18, 2010, the RCMP chartered a helicopter to get closer to the trails and lakes, particularly on Lac Brochet. That afternoon, the snowmobile, in the possession of Brian Denechezhe, was spotted about 10 miles southwest of Lac Brochet on Lac Brochet (lake), submerged in about 6′ of water about 50′ from shore.
The snowmobile has since been retrieved and the immediate area was searched for Brian Denechezhe without success.
At present, efforts to find Brian Denechezhe continue. He was reported to have familiarity with the area, had no survival gear and did not know how to swim. Open water and fast currents in the vicinity of where the snowmobile was found are present and considered a hazard. The current warm weather is melting the ice also posing considerable risks to searchers.
At present, the RCMP continue to monitor and assess search efforts. The assistance of the RCMP Under Water Recovery Team has been requested and are expected on scene some time tomorrow.
Update: 04/21/10 12:06pm
On April 20, 2010, at about 2pm, community members searching the lake located the body of 29-year-old Brian Denechezhe of Lac Brochet, Manitoba. It is believed at this time that the deceased had gone through the ice while traveling by snowmobile.
The deceased has been transported to Winnipeg for an autopsy.
Police continue to investigate.
Sgt. Line Karpish
RCMP Media Relations
(204)983-8497
