Four people are dead after a boating accident on the Burntwood River.

Thompsonites Shane Cripps and Conor Sykes, as well as two children, went out for their first excursion of the year yesterday and never returned.

RCMP and Thompson Fire launched the initial search after the four did not return home, and later several volunteers and a helicopter joined the search.

Their canoe was found overturned in the river, as well as the bodies of all four canoers.

The investigation is ongoing. All four were found wearing flotation devices.