here is the story off of
www.cbc.ca
3 men recovering after boat sank on fishing trip
Last Updated: Tuesday, May 20, 2008 | 2:04 PM MT
CBC News
Three men were recovering Tuesday after their boat sank over the long weekend, plunging them into the icy water of an Alberta lake.
On Sunday night, the trio launched a 16-foot outboard in Gull Lake, about 180 kilometres north of Calgary, with plans to go fishing, Rimbey RCMP said.
When they failed to return at 7:30 p.m. as scheduled, the boat's owner called 911.
Police, aided by three civilian boaters and an auxiliary RCMP member, organized a search.
Searcher Rob Steenwuk, from Red Deer, and friend Ralf Kaiser found the men clinging to the mostly submerged boat in the middle of the lake around 10:30 p.m. An RCMP news release estimates the trio was in the "frigid" water for up to three hours.
The rescued men were "extremely hypothermic," police said, and were returned to the Parkland Marina, where they were met by a crowd offering blankets, sleeping bags and other items that could be used to help warm up the men.
"As more blankets were required, people were running back to campsites and returning with whatever they had, and in many cases giving up their jackets and sweaters to assist," the RCMP said in the news release. "This effort was an incredible sight and resulted in all parties recovering."
The boaters were transported to hospital by Rimbey ambulance.
The investigation into the sinking continued Tuesday. Police said they believe the problem was mechanical, but weather may also have been a factor, as wind and rain hit the area shortly after launch.
Gull Lake Mishap
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