News release
RCMP respond to two separate drownings in northern Manitoba
November 24, 2025
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Winnipeg, Manitoba
From: Manitoba RCMP
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On November 22, 2025, at 1:20 am, Norway House RCMP received a report from a First Nations Safety Officer (FNSO) that a person had fallen through the ice on the Nelson River in Kinosao Sipi Cree Nation.
Officers, along with FNSO’s and local Fire and Rescue personnel, attended to area and located a female who could be seen lying on her back on the ice with her feet in the water. She could not move further as she feared the ice would break underneath her.
An officer crawled out as far as he could until the ice began to crack underneath him. He remained as close as he could while encouraging the woman to remain calm.
A local firefighter then donned a drysuit and attempted to reach the woman, but he too fell through the ice. A subsequent second effort allowed him to reach the woman. With the use of a log thrown out into the water from those on shore, the two grabbed a hold of it and were pulled to shore and removed from the water.
The 72-year-old woman, exhibiting signs of hypothermia, was taken to the hospital. In speaking with hospital staff and police, she disclosed that she had been walking on the ice with another person, later identified as a 44-year-old male, who was now believed to be in the water. The subsequent search of the area with a drone failed to locate the victim.
On November 23, just after 7:15 pm, searchers, which included FNSO’s, Fire and Rescue, local fishermen and additional volunteers, located and retrieved the body of the 44-year-old male from the water. He was pronounced deceased on scene.
Norway House RCMP continue to investigate.
On November 23, 2025, at 1:20 am, Cross Lake RCMP were advised by a First Nations Safety Officer that they located a set of footprints on shore that led into open water in Pimicikamak Cree Nation.
Officers, along with local fire and rescue personnel, attended the scene.
With the use of a drone, a body was located and recovered from the water and taken to the Nursing Station where the 47-year-old male was pronounced deceased.
Cross Lake RCMP continue to investigate
The RCMP would like to urge caution to those attempting to walk on or cross waterways that appear to be frozen. Although we are already into the third week of November, the very mild fall temperatures experienced throughout the province, has resulted in a very slow freeze.
Most waterways in the south remain open whereas in the north, the freeze-up has started, but not at all safe to be on.