On November 7, 2011, shortly after 4pm, Island Lake RCMP Detachment received a report of missing boaters from Garden Hill FN.
RCMP established that four boaters from Garden Hill FN, ranging in age from 15 to 21 years, had last been seen on November 4, 2011, at about 7pm, where they had been heading to Wasagamach by boat.
Due to lack of daylight, RCMP initiated a search the following morning by chartered helicopter, RCMP and boats, with the assistance of many locals to search for the missing boaters.
During the search, the boat was spotted stuck in rapids, empty. The boat was on the Island Lake river at Pelican Rapids, about 45 minutes by boat, north of Garden Hill. A short while after, a 21-year-old man from Garden Hill FN was spotted nearby sitting in the snow without shoes on. He was airlifted to the Garden Hill nursing station. Police say that the man suffered non-life threatening injuries.
RCMP continue to gather the details of how the events unfolded, although it appears that the foursome got lost. A snow storm in the area made matters difficult over the weekend. At present 3 individuals, 2 male and a female, have not been located.
Today the search continues by boat and helicopter.
