In a media release today (June 20), Island Lake RCMP said that on June 15, 2023, at approximately 4:00 pm, officers responded to the nursing station for a report of a drowning.
RCMP say at approximately 3:00 pm, a 23-month-old boy was found in the lake outside his residence in Garden Hill First Nation. He was brought to the Nursing Station and then transported to Winnipeg. It was determined he was in the care of older siblings at the time of the drowning. On June 18, 2023, the child succumbed to his injuries in hospital.
And on June 18, 2023, at approximately 7:15 pm, Island Lake RCMP responded to a drowning in St. Theresa Point First Nation.
Police say a group of children were swimming, when two 10-year-old girls swam out too far and began having difficulty. Both went under water, and a bystander was able to pull one to safety. The victim was taken to the Nursing Station and has since recovered.
The other girl could not immediately be found, and a First Nation Safety Officer attended the scene with dive equipment and located her in the water. The 10-year-old was taken to the Nursing Station where she was pronounced deceased.
Island Lake RCMP continue to investigate.
