Summary based on the NamUs case record (can2014003215) and
1 other sourceIn the summer of 1972, a young man named Hank Joseph Ethier, just 16 years old, embarked on what should have been a memorable fishing trip with friends. On June 24th, the group of seven was enjoying a day on the Burntwood River near Thompson, Manitoba. As the day wore on, the friends guided their two boats to the shore to have supper. After their meal, one of the boats, with Hank aboard, pushed back out onto the water.
What happened next would forever alter the lives of those present and leave a family with decades of unanswered questions. The group in Hank's boat found themselves in a perilous situation when their boat's motor failed to start, leaving them adrift and inching dangerously closer to the river's rapids.
Faced with the growing danger, the group in the disabled boat called out for help to their friends in the second vessel. The second boat quickly came to their aid, pulling up alongside the powerless craft. In a moment of quick thinking, Hank jumped from his boat and swam over to the rescue boat. Once he was aboard, the plan was for everyone from the disabled boat to transfer to the functioning one. However, the powerful current of the river had other plans. Before the transfer could be completed, both boats were caught in the rapids. In the ensuing chaos, it is believed that Hank tragically drowned in the turbulent waters.
The events of that late June day have left an enduring void for the family and friends of Hank Joseph Ethier. At 16, he was a young man with his whole life ahead of him. He was described as being 5'9' and weighing 174 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes. The investigation into his disappearance has been handled by the Thompson RCMP. Despite the passage of time, the case remains a painful memory and a stark reminder of the unforgiving power of nature. The official assumption is that Hank drowned as a result of the boating mishap, a tragic end to a day that began with the simple joys of fishing and friendship on a Manitoban river. This overview encapsulates the heartbreaking circumstances surrounding the disappearance of Hank Joseph Ethier, a young life lost to a sudden and unforeseen tragedy.Last Seen: Jun 24, 1972
