Sadness blankets Winnipeg as six year old boy drowns in Red River

On Saturday, December 4th, 2010 at approximately 3:35 p.m. the Winnipeg Police Service received an emergency call reporting that a person was in the Red River just south of the Disraeli Bridge.

Emergency Responders arrived on scene on met with a 10 year old male child who had been pulled from the river by a passing motorist. Officers then received Information that a 6 year old boy had also gone into the water and had not surfaced.

Responders immediately began searching the area, and rescue equipment was deployed to enter the waterway.

It is believed that the two boys had been playing on an ice covered section of the river when the ice gave away sending both boys into the water. It is believed the 6 year old boy Nathanial Thorassie went under the ice prior to the arrival of passerby.

Rescuers searched the area for a number of hours prior to calling off the search.

The 10 year old boy was conveyed to the hospital in stable condition. His rescuer was 16-year-old Kole Devisscher. Kole Devisscher was driving by when he saw the 10-year-old struggling to get out of the water.

"He was frozen, his hands were just purple," Devisscher said. "He’d been in there quite a while."

He rushed to help and managed to pull the 10-year-old to safety.

Sadly this incident has now moved into the recovery phase. The Winnipeg Police Service Dive Unit is currently assessing the feasiblity of a recovery dive within the coming days.

Police are now warning parents and caregivers to keep children away from the river.

Notes: Kole Devisscher should be recognized for his bravery and courage.

We at Oye Times are parents ourselves and offer our sincere condolences to the Thorassie family.

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