Man drowns at swimming hole

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This article was published 13/07/2020 (2076 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A 21-year-old man from Ste. Anne has drowned about 25 kilometres north of Lac du Bonnet, at a former quarry popular with day trippers.

Just after 3 p.m. Sunday, a 911 call came into Powerview RCMP for a possible drowning east of Manitoba Hydro’s Great Falls generating station, which spans the Winnipeg River and is located off Provincial Trunk Highway 11.

The unserviced and unsupervised swimming hole attracts people with its clear, blue waters, and is a popular spot for rock jumping and camping throughout the summer.

Manitoba RCMP say the 21-year-old was at the former quarry with friends Sunday afternoon. He had jumped in the water and was struggling to swim. Others tried to help the man, but he went under the water and did not surface.

Colin, a Winnipeg man who asked only to be identified by his first name, was at the quarry with his family and responded to calls for help from across the water.

He jumped in the pit and swam over with some pool noodles. After speaking with bystanders, he began scouring the water for the missing swimmer.

“No one knew exactly what had happened, but there were people searching immediately,” he said.

About 30 people helped in the effort, Colin said, adding the quarry was quite busy Sunday, with more than 75 people on the cliffs looking on.

After about six minutes, the man was found, and Colin and five others helped bring him to the edge, he said. He began chest compressions until a woman who said she was an off-duty paramedic took over. Emergency personnel arrived shortly after.

“It really is a tragedy,” Colin said. “My heart and thoughts are with the family.”

Cpl. Julie Courchaine, media relations officer with the Manitoba RCMP, said the response effort was tricky due to limited access to the former quarry.

To get to the site, people have to use a narrow walkway on the dam to cross the river, and Courchaine said first responders used all-terrain vehicles, motorcycles and a boat to access the area. STARS air ambulance also responded.

The man was taken to hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Police continue to investigate.

Jack Brisco, mayor of the Rural Municipality of Alexander, where the quarry is located, offered condolences to the family and said the municipal council is meeting today to discuss ways to make the location safer.

The swimming spot has logged more visitors this year than in past summers, he said, and cars overflowed the small parking area near the dam on the weekend.

“It’s something that I think is getting to be a little more popular for kids, so we’re going to have to investigate to see what’s going on there, see who owns the property and make it safe,” Brisco said. “We just don’t want to see anyone drown again.”

Manitoba Hydro spokesman Bruce Owen said the quarry is believed to be on Crown land and the walkway on the generating station is also used by hikers accessing the Great Trail.

“We extend our condolences to the young man’s family and friends,” he said Monday. “Warning signs telling people of the dangers of accessing and swimming at the former quarry were installed several years ago.

“We have and will continue to work with local officials on restricting public access to the walkway.”

danielle.dasilva@freepress.mb.ca