A group of children from Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation are safe after a dock they were playing on detached from shore, leaving them stranded on Foot Print Lake.

Just before 8 p.m. on Friday, July 28, Nelson House RCMP received a report of five children stranded on a dock without life jackets. It was freely floating on the lake and quickly drifting downstream. 

RCMP say one officer kept an eye on the dock while another member went to get a boat. With help from several other officers, Nelson House RCMP were able to safely get all five children, between the ages of 7 and 14, to safety.

“We are very glad this had a happy ending,” said Sergeant Shaun Sample, Nelson House RCMP Detachment Commander. “Of course, they weren’t wearing life jackets; they were on a dock tied to shore, so to be free-floating in a current without a lifejacket would be a very frightening ordeal for them. We were all very relieved to get them safely on the boat and back to their parents.”

All but one of the kids were from the community. One female was from Thompson. 

“We are very thankful for the assistance of the RCMP in getting the young women back to their parents,” said Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation Chief Angela Levasseur. “I would like to encourage all parents to be mindful of their children when playing around water.”