Missing snowmobiler presumed drowned

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This article was published 23/02/2021 (1830 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The search for a missing snowmobiler has ended after tracks were found leading to broken ice in a lake in Whiteshell Provincial Park.

Dan Lemay, 50 of Grunthal is believed to have drowned in Eleanor Lake, RCMP said Tuesday. The search was called off at 5 p.m.

Earlier, RCMP said Lemay had gone snowmobiling in the park on Sunday at about 5:30 p.m., and was reported missing when he hadn’t returned by 11:30 p.m.

Lemay was an experienced snowmobiler who was dressed for the cold weather and knew the area, police said.

For two days, more than 50 volunteers and several trained search teams looked for Lemay by snowmobile and helicopter.

But after RCMP received two tips saying a lone snowmobiler was seen going northbound on Eleanor Lake on Sunday around the time Lemay was reported missing, aerial searchers were sent to the area and spotted a patch of open water on the lake.

Trained ice rescue technicians with the Office of the Fire Commissioner went to the spot and saw snowmobile tracks heading to the broken ice.

“There were no tracks leading away from the site,” said a statement from the RCMP.

“The search for Lemay and the snowmobile will resume in the spring once conditions are safe for a dive team to engage in the search.”