Two Men Drown in Separate Manitoba Water Incidents
Tragedy Strikes Rural Lakes and Ponds Over the Weekend
Two men have died in separate drowning incidents across rural Manitoba this past Saturday. Search and rescue teams recovered the remains of a 70-year-old swimmer near Steinbach and a 25-year-old man at Grand Beach, highlighting the dangers of unpredicatable water conditions.
Devastating Weekend on the Water
A 70-year-old Ontario resident went missing around 2 p.m. while swimming at Reynold Ponds, southeast of Winnipeg. Later that same day, emergency services were called to Grand Beach, where a 25-year-old Winnipeg man disappeared under the surface of Lake Winnipeg after showing signs of distress.
RCMP spokesperson **Michelle Lissel** commented on the tragic events, stating, “Two incidents on Saturday ended in tragedy in what was supposed to be a fun weekend for all these people that were involved.”
She emphasized the emotional toll these deaths have on families and first responders, urging continued vigilance regarding water safety.
Urgent Calls for Water Safety
At Reynold Ponds, bystanders informed Steinbach RCMP that the senior swimmer had not resurfaced after entering the water. Meanwhile, the Selkirk detachment received a distress call around 8 p.m. regarding a separate incident on Lake Winnipeg’s eastern shore.
The Manitoba RCMP Underwater Recovery Team was deployed for both situations. The rural municipality of St. Clements, which includes Grand Beach Provincial Park, mobilized its entire emergency response department, utilizing two search vessels for an extensive five-hour search. Tyler Freeman, manager of protective services for St. Clements, described the 1 a.m. discovery of the 25-year-old as “beyond tragic.”
According to a police report, two men had been on Lake Winnipeg with a pool floatation device when they lost their balance and fell into the water. A nearby kayaker managed to rescue one man, but the other did not resurface.
Beachgoer **Rhonda Funk** recounted hearing sirens shortly after 8 p.m., leading to the beach’s evacuation. Her husband assisted in the weekend search efforts. “I wish Grand Beach had the (life-jacket) lending posts like other beaches… It would make it safer for those who are not familiar with water or can’t swim,”
Funk suggested, noting that life jackets are available through loan programs at other Manitoba Parks locations.
Statistics Underscore Risks
The recent drownings occurred just one week after the Lifesaving Society Manitoba’s water safety awareness campaign. This year’s initiative promoted crucial messages such as never leaving children unattended near water, ensuring sober boating, and consistently wearing life jackets.
Data from Drowning Prevention Research Centre Canada’s 2025 report indicates that over a third of drowning incidents in Manitoba happen in lakes or ponds. The analysis further reveals that men are significantly more likely to drown than women. Between 2018 and 2022, men accounted for eight in 10 drowning fatalities. During this period, nearly half of all drowning deaths occurred while individuals were wading or actively swimming.
As of Sunday, an RCMP spokesman confirmed that seven people have drowned in Manitoba so far this year.
