CALGARY- RCMP believe carbon monoxide poisoning is likely to blame after two men were found dead and another unconscious in a boat on the Clearwater River Friday.
Police received a report around 2 p.m. that a boat was tied up and running on the river in a remote campsite 80 kilometers east of Fort McMurray.
“We had received a call from a boater who uses the Clearwater River … that around 8 o’clock that morning, he drove by an area a lot of boaters will use as a docking spot… and he noticed this boat that was tied up by the bank and the motor was going,” said Cpl. George Cameron with the Wood Buffalo RCMP.
“He went upriver a ways and he came back around 2 o’clock and noticed the same boat was still tied up and the motor was still going.
“He thought that kind of strange so he investigated a bit and approached the boat.
“It was covered in tarp and unfortunately he discovered three men – two of which were deceased. That’s when he called us.”
“It’s a pretty remote area… the only way in is helicopter,” added Cameron.
When officers and a medical team arrived at the scene they confirmed the two men – aged 66 and 57 – were dead. They were in a boat covered with a canopy, as if they were preparing to sleep.
A third man – a 43-year-old – was found unconscious inside the boat and was airlifted to the Northern Lights Hospital in Fort McMurray, then to Edmonton’s Misericordia Hospital.
As of Saturday night, RCMP said that man had still not regained consciousness.
Medical personnel said high levels of carbon monoxide were found in all three men.
At this time, foul play is not suspected but police continue to investigate.
All three men are from the Fort McMurray area. None of them had identification on them, but RCMP have been able to notify their next of kin.
“They’re dealing with this tragic event as we speak,” said Cameron.
He hopes other boaters consider the danger carbon monoxide can present.
“Just because an area is not sealed… you can still get the poisonous gases from any kind of heater.”
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