Family rescued after paddle boat drifts far from Albert Beach

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This article was published 23/05/2016 (3489 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

It was a scary and dangerous Sunday for a family after wind blew their paddle boat far out from Albert Beach and into high waves.

There were no life jackets in the small boat the family — four adults and two children, ages five and seven — was in at Albert Beach. The adults didn’t intend to go far from the shore of Lake Winnipeg. But, around 10 a.m., the wind picked up and the paddlers couldn’t overcome its strength, according to Victoria Beach Police Insp. Paul McQueen.

“As soon as they got away from the protection of the trees, the wind pushed them farther and farther out into the lake and as hard as the adult male tried to paddle, it kept pushing them out farther,” McQueen said.

Through his binoculars, a man on shore saw the family struggling and called police. A woman in the boat also called 911. McQueen said they didn’t have a boat so they called the RCMP and Victoria Beach’s volunteer fire department.

Before the firefighters arrived, citizens took it upon themselves to help the boaters. A man in a kayak risked his own life to bring life jackets to them, McQueen said. He also said a man hopped on his jet ski and tried to tow the boat to shore, but the wind was too strong.

The volunteer fire crew with its inflatable Zodiac arrived and managed to reach the family. As the crew loaded the adults and children into the Zodiac, a wave toppled the paddle craft, which had already begun sinking.

“I can’t stress enough that it was the fire department’s quick response and heroic efforts that averted a tragedy,” McQueen said. “It was the very next wave that capsized the paddle boat.”

Paramedics checked out the boaters who were quite shaken, but unhurt, McQueen said.

In Canada, every recreational boat needs to have at least one Canadian-approved flotation device or life jacket for every person on board. McQueen said even though the adults didn’t plan on going far from shore, that didn’t negate the need to have life jackets in the boat.

“I think they’ve learned a very valuable lesson and we were just happy that we were able to get all six onshore without any injuries and tragedy averted.”

McQueen said the priority was to ensure everyone’s safety, but the incident could result in charges.

“The report will be submitted and charges may be contemplated at a later date.”

bailey.hildebrand@freepress.mb.ca