24°c Partly cloudy
25°c Chance of thundershowers
Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION
RCMP swoops in to rescue lost ATV riders
Four taken to hospital
RCMP swooped in and rescued two groups of ATV riders who got stranded in the bush south of Winnipeg Monday evening.
The riders lost their way in the Rat River Wildlife Management Area, about 90 kilometres south of Winnipeg, near Roseau River. Nobody was seriously injured, but one adult, one teenager and two children were taken to hospital.
The riders were participating in an annual rally organized by the Roseau River Bible Camp. They got lost after they chose to go their own way.
"They deliberately chose to go off the trail," said Rod Reimer, director of the camp. "They weren't guided at all."
The stranded group used a cellphone to contact 911. They told an operator they had become lost and believed some of them might be suffering from hypothermia.
A STARS helicopter was dispatched from Winnipeg and located the group within 20 minutes using GPS co-ordinates obtained by triangulating the cellphone's position. A teenager and two children, ages 5 and 6, were airlifted to a staging area that had been set up by RCMP, paramedics and firefighters.
An RCMP officer who arrived with the helicopter attempted to get the group's remaining members to the staging area by ground.
"The remainder of the people who were there felt they could drive out," said RCMP Staff Sgt. Kelly Glaspey. But they couldn't follow their tracks out after they became stuck.
The Mountie radioed for help because they were stuck in a wet area and one of the members of the group had gotten wet and cold. A second group of riders, members of the organizing committee who searched for the original group, got stuck while returning and needed assistance.
The RCMP called in its Integrated Border Enforcement Team in Altona for assistance to extricate everyone who remained in the bush. The helicopter was no longer an option due to darkness.
"We had to make several trips back and forth to get to the people who were marooned in the swamp", said Glaspey. A floating off-road vehicle, provided by the enforcement team, rescued 11 people.
"It's very unfortunate that this happened," said Reimer. "I'm just glad everybody is OK."
Organizers had gone out a week earlier to make sure the trail was well-marked. They believe this year's trail was easier than previous years. "The group that stayed together had no issues," said Reimer.
Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition April 17, 2012 A5
More Latest News
- Back to Top
- Return to Latest News
More Latest News
(1 of 49 articles for today)
HBO and James Gandolfini's managers say the actor famous for 'The Sopranos' has died in Italy
7:25 PM 0
Poll
Most Popular Latest News
- Court told driver hysterical after vehicle fatally hit highway worker
- Child in critical condition after West End crash
- Mountie hospitalized, dog euthanized after crash near Saskatoon
- Sobey clan to alter city market
- HBO and James Gandolfini's managers say the actor famous for 'The Sopranos' has died in Italy
- New crowd plan for Taylor Swift get-together
- Young girl found dead on railway tracks
- Community's children apprehended by province
- Kids of St. Ignatius make Sweet gesture to beloved crossing guard
- 'Shocking' half of First Nations kids living in poverty, new study finds
- Young girl found dead on railway tracks
- HSC Home Lottery winners announced
- Court told driver hysterical after vehicle fatally hit highway worker
- Child in critical condition after West End crash
- Winnipeg man given 2-year sentence for coma-inducing 'sucker punch'
- Toronto woman dead in rural Manitoba ATV wreck
- Man convicted of drunk driving in Henderson pile-up
- Bomber fans wowed by new stadium
- RCMP say woman deliberately murdered her sister with her car
- Portage Ave. stretch re-opens after Friday-night bomb scare
- Young girl found dead on railway tracks
- Man dies after being pulled from vehicle submerged in Winnipeg retention pond
- Hailstorm wreaks havoc on Winnipeg garden centre
- 87-year-old woman tells jurors, 'Somebody had to stand up to' Donald Trump
- Two people killed in crash north of Winnipeg
- Two Winnipeg teens identified as victims of crash
- HSC Home Lottery winners announced
- Father, daughter seriously injured in ATV crash
- Chiropractor guilty of sexually assaulting, beating ex-girlfriend
- Court told driver hysterical after vehicle fatally hit highway worker
- Baked Alaska: Unusual heat wave hits north, with temps topping 80 degrees (26C) in Anchorage
- Mountie hospitalized, dog euthanized after crash near Saskatoon
- New crowd plan for Taylor Swift get-together
- HBO and James Gandolfini's managers say the actor famous for 'The Sopranos' has died in Italy
- Court told driver hysterical after vehicle fatally hit highway worker
- Sobey clan to alter city market
- Community's children apprehended by province
- Accounts and accountability: UK committee says bankers must take more responsibility
- Tory attacks on Trudeau boomerang, raise questions about PMO involvement
- Métis ready to ring bell again
- At 55, I'm wise to what's real in life
- Sobeys gobbles up Safeway
- Basic arithmetic back in class
- Priest kept silent about accusations against Storheim, court hears
- Geothermal heat coming to some Manitoba First Nations
- Spiralling cost of land raises new home prices
- Baked Alaska: Unusual heat wave hits north, with temps topping 80 degrees (26C) in Anchorage
- App could give Winnipeggers chance to report bad parking, get paid
- Rogers and MTS announce new network sharing agreement
- $110-K worth of nickel plates stolen from Thompson mine
- New owner for lumber stores
- Chiropractor guilty of sexually assaulting, beating ex-girlfriend
- Grocer Joe Cantor dies at 88
- Door openers being used to break into garages, police warn
- Province formally opens Mental Health Crisis Response Centre
- Hailstorm wreaks havoc on Winnipeg garden centre
- New rules let customers cancel phone contracts without penalty after two years
- App could give Winnipeggers chance to report bad parking, get paid
- At 55, I'm wise to what's real in life
- MTS to sell Allstream to Egyptian investment group, focus on Manitoba market
Ads by Google
You can comment on most stories on winnipegfreepress.com. You can also agree or disagree with other comments. All you need to do is be a Winnipeg Free Press print or e-edition subscriber to join the conversation and give your feedback.
You can comment on most stories on winnipegfreepress.com. You can also agree or disagree with other comments. All you need to do is be a Winnipeg Free Press print or e-edition subscriber to join the conversation and give your feedback.
Have Your Say
New to commenting? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions.
Have Your Say
Comments are open to Winnipeg Free Press print or e-edition subscribers only. why?
Login SubscribeHave Your Say
Comments are open to Winnipeg Free Press Subscribers only. why?
SubscribeThe Winnipeg Free Press does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. By submitting your comment, you agree to our Terms and Conditions. These terms were revised effective April 16, 2010.