On July 18, 2025, at approximately 6 :15 pm, Portage la Prairie RCMP were notified about a young child that had possibly drowned at Delta Beach.
Officers responded immediately, and when they arrived, EMS was already on scene and advised officers that the 2-year-old boy was now responsive and they were treating him.
The boy had been playing in the water with other children when suddenly, he did not resurface. He was pulled from the water, not breathing.
A 29-year-old male who was also at the beach saw what was happening and immediately went over to assist the family, and began administering CPR until the child began coughing, he stayed with him until EMS arrived.
The child was taken to hospital as a precaution in stable condition and will make a complete recovery.
“If it wasn’t for the actions of this man at the beach, the outcome would likely not have been the same,” said Portage la Prairie RCMP Staff Sergeant Darcy Turko. “We would like to commend and thank this bystander for his quick thinking, his actions helped save a life.”
Manitoba RCMP want to remind everyone that it only takes a split second for things to change while you are enjoying the water, especially when it comes to children.
National Drowning Prevention Week wraps up on July 26th.