(submitted photo/ HEART Team)

By Nicole Reis

STRONG CURRENTS

Police caution against strong currents in waterways after drownings, search for missing child

Jul 8, 2020 | 5:00 PM

Police are cautioning the public to be aware of strong currents in Saskatchewan lakes and rivers after two two children and a young man disappeared in the water during the last two weeks.

RCMP is reminding the public that waters can look calm and be dangerous at the same time.

Drowning in Sucker River

On July 3 around 3 p.m., La Ronge RCMP responded to the report of the disappearance of a six-year-old boy swimming in the Sucker River. In a release, RCMP said strong currents where the river enters the mouth of Lac La Ronge pulled the boy away from his group.

La Ronge EMS, La Ronge Fire Department, Sucker River Fire Department, Canadian Rangers, Grandmother’s Bay Recovery Team, Lac La Ronge Indian Band and several community members were on scene to assist La Ronge RCMP with the search for the six-year-old boy.

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At 7:15 p.m., the boy’s body was located by the Grandmother’s Bay Recovery Team.

Next-of-kin notifications have been completed and Victim Services met with the family.

Drowning in Battle River, south of Waseca

On July 4, around 8:30 p.m., Maidstone RCMP responded to a report of the disappearance of an 18-year-old man who was tubing with friends down the Battle River, south of the community of Waseca. A thunderstorm rolled into the area and the group of friends lost track of the man near the shore of the river.

Maidstone RCMP, Maidstone Fire Department, Lloydminster Search and Rescue, Saskatchewan RCMP Traffic Services, Cut Knife RCMP and Turtleford RCMP were on scene to search for the man. Civilian volunteers launched boats and a local resident flew over the river with a plane.

Rescue efforts continued all night. At dawn, Saskatchewan RCMP Search and Rescue, Saskatchewan RCMP Underwater Recovery Team, Civil Air Search and Rescue Association (CASARA), Search and Rescue Saskatchewan Association of Volunteers (SARSAV), Wilton Police Service along with hundreds of local residents on foot, quads, horses, side by sides, boats, canoes and kayaks joined the search.

At 8:30 p.m., the body of the deceased man was located downstream by the Saskatchewan RCMP Underwater Recovery Team.

Next-of-kin notifications have been completed and Victim Services has met with the family.

Suspected drowning in Makwa Lake, near Makwa Sahgaiehcan First Nation

On June 23, at approximately 7 p.m., Loon Lake RCMP responded to the report of the disappearance of a six-year-old boy playing on a sandbar of the southeast end of Makwa Lake, near Makwa Sahgaiehcan First Nation.

Loon Lake RCMP said the child was pulled from the sandbar by strong currents and swept away.

A search for the boy was organized with the help of several local residents and organizations on the ground, from the air and on the lake.

RCMP spokesperson Rob King said the subwater search was scaled back though the above water search continues with hundreds of local residents assisting officers.

Loon Lake RCMP is assisted by Meadow Lake RCMP, Saskatchewan Ministry of Environment Conservation officers, Loon Lake Fire Department, Civil Air Search and Rescue Association (CASARA), Saskatchewan RCMP Underwater Recovery Team, Saskatchewan RCMP Search and Rescue, North Battleford RCMP Police Dog Services, Pierceland RCMP, Prince Albert Grand Council Emergency Services, Hutterian Emergency Aquatic Response Team (HEART), Grandmother’s Bay Recovery Team, Lloydminster Rescue Squad, Canadian Search and Disaster Dogs Association (CASDDA), Makwa Sahgaiehcan First Nation, Meadow Lake Tribal Council, along with a dozen RCMP members from across the province and numerous residents, family members and friends.

The body of the child has not been recovered.

For safety tips on open water swimming, including what to do when caught in a current, information can be found through the Canadian Red Cross here.

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nicole.reis@jpbg.ca

Twitter: @nicolereis7722