Manitoba First Nation man dead, others poisoned: family member

Manitoba RCMP are investigating the death of a northern Manitoba man after he ingested a ‘liquid substance.’ Harrison Shin reports.

A woman in God’s Lake Narrows believes her brother died and several of his friends were poisoned after drinking what they thought was smuggled alcohol but was actually windshield wiper fluid.

Pamela Chubb said her brother, 20-year-old Sydney Lance Jordan Chubb, was an occasional drinker and would always drink with the same group of friends.

On Friday evening, she said her brother purchased a product he was told was alcohol smuggled into the dry northern community. By Saturday night, she said he was lethargic and unresponsive.

She first thought it was a hangover but said it became much worse.

“He wasn’t responsive in his bed when they found him and he was foaming at the mouth,” Pamela told CTV News over the phone.

She said her brother later died.

Police investigating death of man who consumed ‘liquid substance’

Manitoba RCMP confirmed the death of a 20-year-old man in God’s Lake Narrows. Police said the man had been brought to the community’s nursing station after consuming multiple drinks of a “liquid substance.”

RCMP said when officers arrived at the station, a large crowd had gathered and they were told the man had been pronounced dead. Police would not confirm the man’s identity.

Mounties said two other boys—ages 15 and 17—who had also consumed the substance were flown to Winnipeg for treatment.

A spokesperson for Shared Health confirmed two minors and one young adult were airlifted from God’s Lake Narrows to the Health Sciences Centre in Winnipeg for care on Sunday morning.

They did not comment on the nature of their visit due to privacy policies.

Pamela said despite the nation’s leadership trying to keep alcohol and drugs out, smugglers and sellers attempt to bring in alcohol in different containers to avoid detection.

“They would try and sneak it in different things, like in coffee whitener or vinegar,” she said, “Bottles of drinks or water bottles.”

She believes in this case the substance was windshield wiper fluid containing methyl alcohol. RCMP have not confirmed what the substance was.

Pamela said her brother was graduating this year and was already planning to go to university or college.

“He was a good kid,” she said. “He doesn’t do drugs or anything.”

Possibly 10 other people drank the substance: police

The RCMP said, following a preliminary investigation, there were possibly 10 other people who drank the substance and received medical treatment before being released.

Police were able to find a container of the substance, which has been seized for further analysis. RCMP said the person who provided the substance has also been identified.

Officers in God’s Lake Narrows, along with the Manitoba RCMP’s Major Crime Services, are investigating.

CTV News reached out to Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak, Keewatin Tribal Council and God’s Lake First Nation for comment and is waiting for a response.