On June 20, 2010, at about 4pm, Dauphin RCMP responded to a capsized boat on the Valley River near the RM of Gilbert Plains.
RCMP report that the boat had five adult occupants. Four of the occupants made it to safety and one is unaccounted for.
RCMP learned that the boaters entered the Valley River north of Gilbert Plains in an non-motorized aluminum boat with paddles. It appears that their boat went sideways in the current and began to take on water.
The missing boater is identified as a 29-year-old man of Gilbert Plains, MB. He was not wearing a life preserver at the time of the incident and is reportedly not a strong swimmer.
Search and Rescue effort was made to locate the missing boater in cooperation with the Gilbert Plains, Dauphin and Roblin Fire Departments along with EMS, Manitoba Conservation, Manitoba Office of the Fire Commissioner and Civilian Air Search and Rescue Association (CASARA) with negative results.
The Valley River is flowing above normal capacity given recent rains in the area resulting in high currents and overland flooding. Efforts to locate the missing boater resumed this morning. High river levels and overland flooding in the area is making search efforts difficult and dangerous to searchers.
Sgt. Line Karpish
RCMP Media Relations
(204)983-8497
