River patrols to be increased following boating collision last weekend in Winnipeg

Winnipeg police are urging boaters to follow proper safety procedures while on the water after a 41-year-old man was hospitalized last Saturday after a boating collision.

Just before 10 p.m. on Aug. 27, WPS’s River Patrol Section attended the Tache Public Dock where members of the Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service were treating the man for serious injuries.

It is believed he was out on a kayak on the Red River when he was struck by a 23-foot Sea Ray boat.

The man was taken to hospital in stable condition, suffering from a head injury. It’s believed he’ll make a full recovery.

Kayak not properly equipped, say police

Officers were able to recover the kayak from a private property, at which point they noted the kayak was not equipped with navigation lighting.

Police also noted the man was wearing dark clothing and due to the time of day, visibility would have already been low.

As a result of the incident, WPS and WFPS will have increased river patrols for the upcoming long weekend.

Boats on Winnipeg’s Red River on Sept. 2, 2022. (Credit: CityNews/Morgan Modjeski)

Competitive kayaker says boaters need to be careful

Sacha Skirzyk has been paddling on rivers in Winnipeg for more than a decade and is now a competitive kayaker who manages the Manitoba Canoe and Kayak Centre. He says while they never take groups out at night, a close call with a boat is not uncommon.

“We have a lot of times when we’re not noticed by motorboats – even during the day – and they just kind of blow right past us and have caused a lot of capsizing,” said Skirzyk.

“It’s both surprising and not surprising unfortunately.”

Skirzyk says it’s critical for vessels to have proper lighting, both on the boat, and the passenger at the paddle, alongside ensuring everyone has proper safety gear like towlines, blankets and lifejackets.

“We’re doing our best to stay equipped, but there’s not much you can do for people not paying attention,” he said.

He stressed boaters have to keep their head on a swivel at all times when navigating the waters.

“We’re tiny, we’re a small vessel, we barely exceed five metres in length when we’re in our individual boats, so you probably won’t notice it if you’re looking straight ahead,” added Skirzyk. “With some water glare, we kind of go invisible. Keeping your head up on that swivel is super important, not just for us, but for other small vessel.”

Patrol boat on the Red River on Sept. 2, 2022. (Credit: CityNews/Morgan Modjeski)

Penalties are steep, warn Lifesaving Society

Lifesaving Society Manitoba says the proper lights and signals are crucial, and legally required, for responsible boating, saying the risks of ignoring the rules are very real.

“If people are being irresponsible when they’re out on the water, I mean ultimately, it does mean there could be a fatality,” said Christopher Love, the group’s water smart and safety management coordinator.

He says the laws around boating, which include having a pleasure craft operator licence and operating the vehicle sober, are in place to keep everyone on the water safe.

He warns not abiding by those rules can have steep consequences.

“Winnipeg police service, RCMP – depending on which body of water you’re on – are out there to do enforcement and you can be ticketed, you can have your boat impounded and you can lose your boating licence, but you can also lose your driving licence.”