RCMP discover damaged rowboat, send underwater search team to Gillam
August 5, 2019, 6:01 am
Manitoba RCMP's underwater recovery team is currently searching an area of the Nelson River in northern Manitoba after a rowboat was found about 13 kilometres from the burned Toyota RAV4 driven by B.C. homicide suspects Kam McLeod and Bryer Schmegelsky that was found July 22.
The green, aluminum flat-bottomed was discovered damaged on the shore, and a red and white water container was found near it.
An RCMP inspector said the boat had been through the rapids and was significantly damaged.
It was found near in the lower Limestone rapids, an area that had last been searched by air three our four days ago. RCMP are trying to determine if the boat belonged to anyone in the area and if the area where it was found it is safe for divers to enter.
"On Friday afternoon, RCMP officers searching from a helicopter, located a damaged aluminum boat on the shore of the Nelson River," RCMP said in a news release Sunday morning.
"Based on this new information, five members of the RCMP Underwater Recovery Team (URT) were immediately deployed. They arrived in Gillam on Saturday, August 3rd, and are expected to conduct a thorough underwater search of significant areas of interest today."
All RCMP underwater recovery team members are highly trained. Each member must pass a three day selection process before undergoing an intensive five-week Underwater Recovery Induction Course. Members then have access to a range of specialized courses, including ice diving and rescue diving.
Every RCMP underwater recovery team has access to a range of advanced equipment to assist in their underwater searches.
