On January 31, 2009 at about 3 p.m., RCMP Gimli Detachment received a 911 dispatch from a 14-year-old boy on a cellular phone advising, he, his sister and their father had left their cottage in Sandy Hook and while snowmobiling on Lake Winnipeg got lost. Their father had also suffered a medical emergency.
The boy and his 11-year-old sister, on their snowmobile, set out to seek medical help for their father and managed to find the shore amidst poor visibility. However, they were unaware of where they were.
The RCMP assisted with local area residents, Fire Departments and surrounding area Detachment members initiated a search for the children and their father with searchers on both snowmobiles and on the roads close to the west shore. It was believed that the children had reached the west shore at an unknown location.
At about 6 p.m., the Gimli Fire Department along with RCMP members located both children, in good health, about 15 miles south of Chalet Beach in the RM of St. Andrews (near the mouth of the Red river). Both were taken to Children’s Hospital in Winnipeg.
The search continued and shortly before 9 p.m., their 51-year-old father, who is a Winnipeg resident, was found about 1 1/2 mile from Grand Marais on Lake Winnipeg. He has been transported to Pine Falls Hospital and his medical status is unknown at this time.
The investigation continues. The names of those involved will not be released at the request of the family.
Update 02/01/09:
On January 31, 2009 at 9:05 p.m. the 51-year-old Winnipeg man found was pronounced deceased at the Pine Falls Hospital.
No additional information is available at this time.
The investigation continues.
Contact:
Sgt. Line Karpish
RCMP Media Relations
(204)983-8497
