The RCMP detachments in Thompson and Oxford House teamed up to rescue a pair of canoeists stranded on the Hayes River about 115 kilometres northeast of Oxford House Aug. 21.
Oxford House RCMP were notified Aug. 20 about the canoeists by the International Emergency Response Co-ordination Centre IERCC), which received a GPS distress signal from the 60-year-old woman and 63-year-old man. The experienced canoeists had tried to cross a section of rapids on the river and badly damaged their canoe, making it unusable. They were now stranded on a remote riverbank. The IERCC advised the pair that their signal had been received and that rescue efforts had begun and would most likely conclude the following day.
The RCMP detachments chartered a float plane and went to the dispatched co-ordinates. The canoeists were wet but otherwise unharmed.
