By Sarah Klein
A man fishing on the Winnipeg River is presumed drowned after he fell into the water on Wednesday afternoon.
RCMP were called to the McArthur Falls Generating Station at around 2 p.m. where witnesses on the opposite side of the river saw the 80-year-old fall into the fast-moving river.
Nearby Manitoba Hydro employees were notified and launched a boat to search for the Lac du Bonnet man. RCMP also joined in the search, but were unable to locate the man. An underwater search was not possible due to the extremely dangerous and rapid waters.
It’s believed the man had climbed over a safety barrier and had lost his footing at the time he fell in.
The name of the deceased has not been released.
McArthur is located about 120 km northeast of Winnipeg.
UPDATE: September 15, 2010 — RCMP recovered the man’s body about 7 km downstream from where he fell in.
