Body of 12-year-old Winnipeg boy who fell into Sturgeon Falls found
The body of a Winnipeg boy who fell into Sturgeon Falls on Saturday has been found following a desperate underwater search that lasted more than a day.
Manitoba RCMP confirmed the body of 12-year-old Usaid Habib was found on Monday around 1 a.m.
As CTV News previously reported, Usaid’s family had been staying at the Nutimik campground in Whiteshell Provincial Park for the weekend and decided to hike to Sturgeon Falls on Saturday morning.
While at the falls, Usaid was climbing down the rocks when he slipped and fell into the water. Almost immediately, Usaid went under in the rapids.
Manitoba RCMP said a bystander jumped into the water to try to save the boy, but wasn't able to bring him to shore.
Usaid’s father, Danish Habib, said he heard his son scream and slip into the water.
“I just couldn’t do anything, anything for him,” he said. “He just went over there and within two seconds, he was in the rapids. I don’t know how to swim so I couldn’t save him."
Habib noted it was a horrible memory, adding that his whole family was there.
“Everybody saw him drowning and we couldn’t do anything for him.”
Tara Seel, a media relations officer with the Manitoba RCMP, said Mounties were called around 11:45 a.m. on Saturday and immediately brought in the underwater recovery team along with more resources including a drone operator to help with the search.
Seel said divers were not deployed due to the fast-moving current. Instead, sonar and robots were used to scour the lake.
"They were out on the water desperately trying to find this boy, and you know always hoping against hope that he's found some sort of branch to cling on to," she said.
"To find the remains of that individual and have to go and tell the family, that's not something that any officer takes lightly."
The RCMP was assisted in its search by the Hutterian Emergency Aquatic Response Team (HEART). Paul Maendel, the dive coordinator with HEART, said this kind of search leaves a toll.
"We believe, fundamentally, if you have the capacity and the capability to help somebody, then you should do it,” he said.
Both Seel and Maendel are reminding Manitobans to be safe on waterways during the spring and summer.
“Don't swim alone,” Seel said. “You never want to go into a body of water by yourself.
“Swim within your abilities and know your limitations. Know what you're capable of, especially when it comes to a non-pool swimming environment. Conditions can change rapidly.”
Seel said inexperienced swimmers and young children should wear life jackets in the water, and people should be aware of their surroundings when out.
Christopher Love with Lifesaving Society Manitoba says on average, there are 22 fatal drownings in Manitoba each year, with 70 per cent happening between May and September.
"Everybody needs to learn how to swim,” he said. “That’s an important layer of protection and a first step in helping prevent drownings across the country for absolutely everybody.”
- With files from CTV’s Daniel Halmarson.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
NDP calls out Conservatives for effort to squash pharmacare legislation
The federal New Democrats are calling out Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre and his party for trying to block the bill that could pave the way for millions of Canadians to access birth control and diabetes coverage.
Stamp prices rise for the third time in five years amid financial woes for Canada Post
Canada Post is increasing stamp prices for the third time since 2019, a move the Crown corporation says is a "reality" of its sales-based revenue structure.
Winnipeg man admits to killing four women, argues he's not criminally responsible
Defence lawyers of Jeremy Skibicki have admitted in court the accused killed four Indigenous women, but argues he is not criminally responsible for the deaths by way of mental disorder – this latest development has triggered a judge-alone trial rather than a jury trial.
An El Nino-less summer is coming. Here's what that could mean for Canada
As Canadians brace themselves for summer temperatures, forecasters say a weakening El Nino cycle doesn’t mean relief from the heat.
Mediterranean staple may lower your risk of death from dementia, study finds
A daily spoonful of olive oil could lower your risk of dying from dementia, according to a new study by Harvard scientists.
A subset of Alzheimer's cases may be caused by two copies of a single gene, new research shows
For the first time, researchers have identified a genetic form of late-in-life Alzheimer’s disease — in people who inherit two copies of a worrisome gene.
Ontario MPP asked again to leave Ontario legislature over keffiyeh, Speaker loosens ban
An Ontario MPP was asked again to leave the Ontario legislature on Monday for wearing a keffiyeh, a garment that was banned by the Speaker last month due to its political symbolism.
WATCH Avian flu: Risk to humans grows as outbreaks spread, warns expert
H5N1 or avian flu is decimating wildlife around the world and is now spreading among cattle in the United States, sparking concerns about 'pandemic potential' for humans. Now a health expert is urging Canada to scale up surveillance north of the border.
Trudeau Liberals to unveil new bill Monday aimed at countering foreign interference
Democratic Institutions Minister Dominic LeBlanc will be tabling legislation on Monday aimed at countering foreign interference in Canada. Federal officials have scheduled a technical briefing on the incoming bill for Monday afternoon.