After days of intensive searching at Nutimik Lake, Manitoba RCMP confirmed Thursday evening that the body of Aaron Au Ramirez, 13, has been recovered. The younger brother, Maximo Au Ramirez, 10, was located in the lake the previous evening, bringing a tragic end to a large-scale response by emergency crews and volunteers.
What happened
According to an RCMP news release, the incident began when Maximo slipped on rocks near Sturgeon Falls and fell into the water on Saturday. Aaron jumped into the lake attempting to reach his brother. Search teams located Maximo on Wednesday evening and Aaron's body was found at approximately 7:45 p.m. on Thursday in the same area.
Search and response
Authorities credited a mix of formal emergency services and local volunteers for the recovery efforts. Residents, lodge staff and multiple agencies coordinated on-water and shoreline searches over several days. Nutimik Lodge owner Allison Baker-Thiessen, whose property is a focal point for visitors in the area, described the community-led operation as a hard-fought effort.
"We got the community together, we got all the emergency teams together. We had countless hours of people helping out and doing wellness checks and all the support in so many different angles,"
She said the boy's body was discovered by a community member at about the same time and in the same location where rescuers found Maximo the day before. Baker-Thiessen said the family has been informed and is now facing a difficult period of grief.
Community reaction and support
Local residents rallied quickly after the boys went missing. Volunteers performed searches, provided support to the family and assisted emergency crews with logistics. Baker-Thiessen acknowledged the scale of that response, saying that without the combined efforts, finding the children would have been far more difficult.
- Emergency agencies involved: RCMP and local search-and-rescue teams.
- Community involvement: Nutimik Lodge staff and nearby residents took part in searches and welfare checks.
- Timeline: boys entered the water Saturday; Maximo found Wednesday evening; Aaron found Thursday evening.
Safety context for provincial lakes
The incident highlights the risks present at cottage and wilderness lakes across the province, where sudden slips on wet rocks and cold-water conditions can put children at elevated danger. Authorities typically remind visitors to keep close visual supervision of children near shorelines, use lifejackets for non-swimmers, and brief family members on safe entry points and hazards like sudden drop-offs and slippery rock formations.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Location | Nutimik Lake, near Sturgeon Falls (Lac du Bonnet area) |
| Victims | Aaron Au Ramirez, 13; Maximo Au Ramirez, 10 |
| Recovery times | Maximo: Wednesday evening; Aaron: Thursday, ~7:45 p.m. |
Next steps and supports
RCMP confirmed the family has been notified. No further operational details have been released by police at this time. Local agencies and Nutimik Lodge staff have been assisting with immediate needs for the family, and community members are arranging supports for those affected by the search and recovery.
This tragedy is a reminder of the suddenness with which recreational outings can turn dangerous. While investigators have released the basic sequence of events, more detailed findings about conditions at the scene or recommendations for future safety practices have not yet been published by authorities. Anyone with information about the incident who has not yet spoken to police is asked to contact Lac du Bonnet RCMP.
The province will undoubtedly be watching for additional information from investigators, and local groups may use the incident to renew conversations about shoreline safety, supervision of children at lakes, and availability of safety equipment at popular cottage sites.
Our hearts are with the family and community as they navigate the days ahead.
