A community is in mourning after two fathers and their two young boys died on a canoe trip in northern Manitoba.
On Monday, Conor Sykes and his six-year-old son, Liam set out on a canoe trip with a friend Shane Cripps and his 14-year-old son Dylan, but never returned.
Sykes mother, Virginia said the four started their trip on the causeway connected to the Burntwood River, just northwest of Thompson, Man.
After the four didn’t return home on time, police launched two rescue boats for a water search on the river. A helicopter was also called in for the search.
The canoe was found overturned in the river, and the four were found dead in the water.
“This is the worst result imaginable. Thank you to everyone involved in the search. This is a devastating accident that has left the community of Thompson in mourning,” Sergeant Ben Sewell of the Thompson RCMP said in a press release.
Cripps’ family said Shane was a loving father, who was always looking for a way to help in the community.
“He truly wanted to bring people together,” Cripps’ sister in-law Teresa Cripps said. “He was an amazing person, truly a fun loving young man who was liked by everyone.”
Teresa said Shane and Dylan would take canoe trips together often. She said both fathers and the two boys were all wearing life jackets.
Virginia also said canoe trips were something Conor and Liam loved to do in the summer.
This was the group’s first canoe trip of the year.
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