One dead, five hurt after canoes capsize

A 48-year-old Saskatoon man is dead and five others in hospital after a Wednesday storm capsized their canoes.

According to a news release, at around 6:10 p.m. Creighton RCMP received a report of three canoes that had capsized in Amisk Lake, with their six male occupants in the water. The lake is just south of Flin Flon, on the Saskatchewan-manitoba border.

The men were on a canoe trip crossing the lake when a large storm moved through the area, RCMP said. Large waves caused all three canoes to capsize around 3:30 p.m. The men floated near the canoes until they reached cell range, then called 911 with a phone stored in a waterproof container.

A combined effort between RCMP, conservation officers and members of the public located the group around 7:30 p.m. using GPS co-ordinates from the call. One of the men was unconscious and was later transported to hospital and pronounced dead. RCMP said his family has been notified.

The other five men were transported to hospital in Flin Flon for assessment.