On August 1, 2009, shortly before 8am, Ashern RCMP received a call advising that two boaters were missing and overdue by 18 hours.
RCMP learned that both adult men from Winnipeg docked from Steep Rock Beach on Lake Manitoba around 2pm Friday July 31, to drop off some of their camping gear on Cherry Island, which is about a 25 minute boat ride from where they docked from.
The two men were expected to return about an hour later to pick up their families for camping at the Island but never returned. Lake conditions became quite rough with high waves later on that day. Families became concerned and eventually contacted the RCMP.
Ashern RCMP, with the assistance the Canadian Air Force CC-130 Hercules transport aircraft dispatched from Trenton, Ontario, located the two missing boaters with their boat on Cherry Island. A radio was dropped off to them to establish communication and identify the boaters.
RCMP learned the two men had mechanical problems with their boat and got stranded on the Island and had no cellular coverage in the area. They were able to nourish themselves from the food they carried to the Island.
Both men were rescued Saturday afternoon without incident.
Cpl Dave Ogungbemi
RCMP Ashern Detachment
(204) 768-2311
