A map with the locations pin pointed by GPS coordinates where the two men were searched for. Point 2 is the near the location the men were located.
On June 13, 2012, at about 11:45pm, RCMP Operational Communications Centre received a call reporting that two canoeists were lost, though on shore. Two 28-year-old men from Winnipeg were reportedly wet and cold, disoriented, extremely anxious and required immediate rescue. It was believed that they were in the Netley Creek marsh area east of Petersfield, Manitoba.
Selkirk Rural RCMP members were first notified and with the assistance of the RCMP Operational Communications Centre set in motion what would add to a multi-agency rescue effort.
GPS coordinates from their location were obtained both from 911 and their cellular provider. The D Division Search and Rescue Coordinator (SAR) was contacted. It was assessed that the isolated marsh area would require not only specialized rescue equipment to be safe and effective, but a solid knowledge of the area. With the time of night as well as the type of terrain rescuers faced, helicopter support was not a possible option. A zodiac boat would be required with good knowledge of the area.
RCMP SAR obtained the assistance of the Manitoba Office of the Fire Commissioner and Search and Rescue Manitoba (SARMAN) network who arranged water rescue with the assistance of the Selkirk, Clandeboye and Matlock Fire Departments along with water rescue teams and the Interlake EMS.
In the interim, an RCMP Operational Communications Centre (OCC) Operator and an RCMP Officer on-duty in OCC stayed on the phone as long as they could to gather information and making conversation to keep the men calm and talking until the cellular phone went dead at about 2:30 am. The pair were increasingly concerned and distressed about their well-being.
Both GPS coordinates were checked and this morning at about 3:30 am, the pair was safely located and rescued from their predicament. They were transported to shore where they received medical assistance by EMS. They were found wet and mosquito bitten but in otherwise good health.
The pair reportedly entered the water at Breezy Bend at about 7 pm, floated to the opening of Lake Winnipeg and became disoriented and had no idea where they were other than according to his cellular phone they were in East Selkirk. While they were not physically injured, they had flipped their canoe a few times through their ordeal and were wet and very cold.
The cellular call triggered a multi-agency team response that is being credited by both the RCMP Selkirk Detachment and the D Division RCMP Search and Rescue Coordinator as key to the success of their rescue.
