'It was remarkable': three people rescued after dinghy swept out on Lake Winnipeg
Three people were rescued on Lake Winnipeg Sunday afternoon after their inflatable got caught in the wind.
Megan Berntt and her family were enjoying the beach beside their Matlock, Man., cottage when they noticed something on the horizon.
"Some kind of watercraft that appeared to be so far out on the lake that I could barely see it," recalled Berntt.
She and her neighbours ran to grab binoculars, saw it was a dinghy stuck in the middle of the lake and called 911.
The Matlock Fire Department, along with two other nearby emergency departments, launched zodiacs into the water.
"The waves when our people went out were probably a foot and a half, so trying to paddle against that is just not a good thing," said David Creasy, deputy chief of the Matlock Fire Department.
Rescuers managed to reach the dinghy, which had drifted even further, and save the three people aboard.
According to Creasy, the people in the dinghy were alright except for being scared and fatigued.
Creasy said these types of rescues tend to involve people who don't know the area, as is the case in this incident.
"I would say nine times out of ten, they are people that are not from around here. And it is people who are not equipped for the water and weather they are in," Creasy said.
Lifesaving Society Manitoba said conditions on the lake change fast, which is why it doesn't recommend using dinghies like the one which drifted.
"We recommend in most cases, don't take an inflatable out to any of the big lakes in Manitoba because with a bit of wind, you can end up going far away from shore really fast," said Christopher Love, water smart coordinator at Lifesaving Society Manitoba.
Love said people using dinghies should tie them to shore and always wear a life vest.
Berntt said she feels even safer letting her kids swim in the lake knowing the first responders' response.
"It was remarkable to see the rescue efforts, especially since we are a small village. It's not like we are five minutes from the city. The response and the rescuers were true heroes," Berntt said.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'Too young to have breast cancer': Rates among young Canadian women rising
Breast cancer rates are rising in Canada among women in their 20s, 30s and 40s, according to research by the University of Ottawa (uOttawa).
Minister 'outraged' after AFN national chief's headdress taken from Air Canada cabin
The federal minister of Crown-Indigenous relations is calling on Air Canada to 'make things right' with the national chief of the Assembly of First Nations, who said her headdress was removed from an airplane cabin during a flight this week.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
'I was scared': Ontario man's car repossessed after missing two repair loan payments
An Ontario man who took out a loan to pay for auto repairs said his car was repossessed after he missed two payments.
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
Canada recognizes housing as a human right. Few provinces have followed suit
As more Canadians find themselves struggling to afford or find housing, the country's smallest province is the only one that can point to legislation recognizing housing as a human right.
What to know about avian influenza in dairy cows and the risk to humans
Why is H5N1, or bird flu, a concern, how does it spread, and is there a vaccine? Here are the answers to some frequently asked questions about avian influenza.
'Violation': CSIS had officer investigated after she reported a superior raped her
A CSIS officer's allegations that she was raped repeatedly by a superior in agency vehicles set off a harassment inquiry, but also triggered an investigation into her that concluded the alleged attacks were a “misuse” of agency vehicles by the woman.
Pro-plastic lobbyist presence at UN talks is 'troubling,' say advocates
Environmentalist groups are sounding the alarm about a steep increase in the number of pro-plastic lobbyists at the UN pollution talks taking place this week.