Whiteshell death marks Manitoba’s 11th possible drowning of year

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This article was published 11/08/2022 (1170 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A Winnipeg man is suspected to have drowned after sliding down falls in Whiteshell Provincial Park, where there have been concerns about high water and strong currents following spring flooding.

Lac du Bonnet RCMP said the 33-year-old entered the deeper part of the water at Pine Point Rapids, on the Whiteshell River, and immediately got into difficulty around 4 p.m. Tuesday.

The man then went underwater and did not resurface.

A bystander jumped into the water to try to save the man, but was unable to reach him in time.

“It would appear that people will slide down the rocks from the upper portion of the river into the lower portion via the rapids, and he was in the process of doing this when he entered the deeper part of the water from the falls and then began to struggle,” Manitoba RCMP spokesman Sgt. Paul Manaigre wrote in an email.

“River conditions, you could say, are higher than normal for this time of year, so the current was stronger than it has been in the past.”

RCMP divers, along with provincial conservation and parks staff, located and recovered the man’s body around 2:30 p.m. Wednesday.

Manaigre said the man was with another person, who was not in the water, when the incident occurred. A few others were there to take part in water activities, he said.

Located on a winding section of river north of Betula Lake, Pine Point Rapids is accessible via a popular forest trail that was closed for part of spring due to severe flooding in the Whiteshell.

Manaigre said Tuesday’s incident is believed to be the fifth drowning in RCMP jurisdiction in 2022.

Lifesaving Society Manitoba has recorded 11 possible drownings in the province this year, based on police and media reports.

“From our point of view, one death due to drowning is one too many,” said Christopher Love, the organization’s water smart and safety management co-ordinator. “Our condolences and our sympathy go out to the family and friends of the (man).”

At this time last year, 10 suspected drownings had been reported.

Official figures, based on findings by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, are not yet available.

Manitoba averages 22 confirmed drownings per year, with about three-quarters of the victims being male. About 72 per cent of the fatalities occur in rivers, lakes or ponds, mostly between May and September.

Two recent incidents have involved young children.

RCMP said a one-year-old child drowned Aug. 2 in Lake Winnipeg, near a home in Berens River First Nation. He was found after going missing from his home.

A six-year-old boy, who had just moved to Canada from Nigeria with his family, was found floating July 21 in a swimming pool at the Concord Gardens townhouse complex, near Concordia Avenue and Louelda Street, in Winnipeg.

He died this month, after he was taken off life-support at Health Sciences Centre.

Also July 21, a 47-year-old man went missing while working on his boat at his dock on the swollen Winnipeg River in the Rural Municipality of Lac du Bonnet.

RCMP divers recovered his body the next day.

Love said there are “extremely challenging” conditions, including high water and strong currents, on many lakes and rivers due to earlier flooding.

People should not enter the water if those conditions exist, he said. They should use “extreme caution” if they do decide to go in, Love added. “It is not behaving the way you may have experienced in the past.”

Last year, water levels were lower due to a drought.

Manaigre and Love offered a number of safety tips for swimmers or others who go in, on or near water this season.

“We have to encourage those swimming, in perhaps unknown areas, to wear a life-jacket, as currents can be surprisingly strong and you may not have the ability to swim back,” said Manaigre. “Each and everyone in the water needs to swim to their abilities.”

Love said people should not go in or near water alone, and they should tell someone about their plans, including their expected date and time of return.

Children should always be supervised, and younger ones should be within arm’s reach of an adult at all times.

The Lifesaving Society offers swimming lessons across Manitoba.

chris.kitching@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @chriskitching