Manitoba RCMP say one person is dead and one is missing after officers were called to the scene of a search and rescue on Lake Winnipeg Saturday afternoon.
Manitoba RCMP say they were called to the area around 4:35 p.m. for the report of an overturned boat near Belair, Man., on Lake Winnipeg.
Police say five people were fishing off the boat when it took on water and capsized.
RCMP say a number of people on the shore could see the scene and called 911 while others who were in the water came to help.
Three men aged 37, 48 and 65 were rescued and taken to hospital.
Police say a 73-year-old man from Winnipeg was found in the water, taken to shore and was pronounced deceased.
The search is still on for a 42-year-old man from Winnipeg.
Family friends at the scene tell Global News Nour Ali is the missing 42-year-old man.
Friends say he moved to Winnipeg in 2012 and has helped many newcomers settle into the city as a prominent member of the Kurdish-Syrian community.
Friends say the deceased 73-year-old was Ali’s father, Hamza Ali.
Selkirk and Powerview RCMP along with the RCMP Inland Water Transport and numerous first responders were on scene, including: Emergency Medical Services, STARS, Victoria Beach Fire and Rescue, East Beaches Fire Department, the Canadian Coast Guard and CFB Trenton/17 Wing, to assist in the search.
Wendy Scurfield was near the lake when she saw people running through beach saying there was a boat flipped in the water.
“As we came back, my parents were sitting in the cabin and they were watching the plane do the lap, the search and rescue, and so then we pieced together that there was something really bad going on and we kind of watched the plane all evening till about sunset,” she said.
“My dad was saying we’ve been out here for 50/60 years and we’ve really not had a drowning.”
STARS spokesperson Fatima Khawaja says they were called to the area after the boat flipped with multiple people on board.
“STARS landed on scene and assessed but did not transport any patients. I only have limited information at this time,” Khawaja said.
RCMP are at the scene Sunday to continue the search.
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