Divers, drones, volunteers search for two boys who fell into Manitoba lake
Posted July 20, 2026 1:59 pm.
Last Updated July 20, 2026 8:07 pm.
Rescue teams are continuing to search on Monday for two boys who slipped into fast-moving water at a provincial park east of Winnipeg over the weekend.
Police say the boys, aged 10 and 13, fell into the lake Saturday afternoon.
Lac du Bonnet RCMP say drones are being used to scan the water and shorelines of Nutimik Lake, in Whiteshell Provincial Park.
“The amount of children that are in this community, this one has really, really shook up the community for sure, but it’s also brought everybody here to support and help,” said Allison Baler-Thiessen, Nutimik Lake Lodge co-owner.
READ: Search continues for two boys missing in Nutimik Lake
Some members of the boys’ family are staying in a trailer at Nutimik Lake Lodge so they can remain close to the search. The lodge has also offered rooms inside the owners’ home, while nearby cabin owners have offered accommodations as well.
“My understanding is that there were two boys. They were 12 and or sorry 13 and 10. The 10-year-old had slipped on the rocks that had entered the water and instinctively the 13-year-old went in to try and retrieve him. Both ended up getting caught in the current, getting washed down the falls,” said Staff Sgt. Cory Meyers, with the Manitoba RCMP.
Mounties add volunteers in boats and personal watercraft are also providing support in the search effort.
RCMP say divers with their underwater recovery team, as well as the Hutterian Emergency Aquatic Response Team (HEART), are searching in the falls while patrols are being made along the shoreline.
“We have to do the same run over and over again till we’re certain that we have covered it all, but at this point, we’ll never be certain that we’ve covered it all. It’s just too rocky on the bottom,” said Paul Maendel, Heart Dive Team co-ordinator.
As the search continues, Baker-Thiessen says she’s also joining Manitoba Parks and other community members to discuss ways to improve safety around Sturgeon Falls once the search is over.
“It is a very beautiful trail. It is a very beautiful spot to go watch sunsets, sit, all of those things. It’s just extremely, extremely dangerous water, and we just need to make it safe. And we will, we will. I have very strong hopes,” said Baker-Thiessen.
On behalf of the family, Baker-Thiessen also created a GoFundMe page for the family. RCMP say crews will continue searching, but say the operation is increasingly becoming a recovery effort, while still holding onto hope of bringing the boys home.
-With files from Mitchell Ringos
