Boy, 3, drowns at Poplar River First Nation

A preschooler has drowned in Poplar River First Nation, Manitoba RCMP say.

The three-year-old boy was found dead in the water just before 9 p.m. Friday after being declared missing earlier in the day.

A widespread search of the area where the child was last seen led to the discovery of his body in the Poplar River.

Coun. Russell Lambert was one of about 75 volunteers that helped find the boy.

He said the child was visiting a residence near the Poplar River and disappearedjust as his family was getting ready to go home.

"I don't know how he managed to get into the river," Lambertsaid. "Those little guys are very mobile."

Police are investigating his death as a drowning and say foul play is not suspected.

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Lambert said the boy was found more than six kilometres down the river from when he likely entered the water.

The local fire department used makeshift draggers between boats to find the boy's body.

"Poplar is known to come together whenever we have emergencies," said Lambert about the search effort.

The community is 345 kilometres north of Winnipeg and just east of Lake Winnipeg.