GRAND RAPIDS, Man. - A group of fishermen braved fast-moving waters to save a four-year-old boy trapped inside a pickup truck that plunged into a powerful river in central Manitoba over the weekend.

The foursome was cleaning Sunday's pickerel haul when a truck carrying a little boy who had been left alone in the vehicle started sinking into the Saskatchewan River near the Grand Rapids First Nation.

"We were sitting in the boat and heard a big splash, and looked up to see a white Chevy in the water," said William Ferland, 49, one of the fisherman who made the rescue.

Kevin Chartrand, Ferland's daughter's common-law husband, immediately jumped into the swift-moving Saskatchewan River wearing everything but his shoes.

"He reached in there to unlock the door or roll the window down. He said that's when the young boy grabbed a hold of his arm, but at the same time, the truck started going under," Ferland recalled.

Fighting against the river's strong current, Ferland and fisherman Brian Turner worked to steady the boat while Chartrand, 32, dove down towards the sinking truck. After Chartrand made several attempts, Turner handed him a hammer.

"He dove under and managed to smash the window, but then had to come up for air, and of course the current took us down (the river) again," Ferland said.

Chartrand and Guy Pranteau, another fisherman, were about to dive again when the boy floated to the surface.

The four-year-old was flown to Children's Hospital of Winnipeg, about 430 kilometres south of the Grand Rapids reserve.

A hospital spokeswoman said he was listed in stable condition Monday.

RCMP say their investigation into the mishap is ongoing, but they believe a relative of the little boy left the truck running while collecting something from a home on the Grand Rapids reserve.

"Somehow, the child got the vehicle into gear, and drove the truck into the river," said Const. Chad Orr.

The efforts of the fishermen and the local band constable were "amazing," Orr said, noting that the current is strong along that part of the river, which is near a hydroelectric dam.

"The gentlemen that were in that boat were having great difficulties trying to stay over the truck because the current was pushing them away. You can imagine what that was like being that swimmer, trying to get down there," said Orr.

"That's probably one of the bravest things I've ever seen."

Ferland, a Grand Rapids band councillor, said it's fortunate that Chartrand was visiting the community from The Pas.

"He just happened to be out with us," Ferland said. "We're just grateful that these fairly young healthy guys were with us and able to swim."

- By Tamara King in Winnipeg

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