Canadian police are looking into claims by an Alberta man that he helped triple-murder suspects Kam McLeod and Bryer Schmegelsky get their bogged vehicle out of a muddy field on Sunday, July 21 — two days before police announced they were wanted.

Key points: An Alberta man says his "jaw dropped" when he realised he had inadvertently helped the pair

An Alberta man says his "jaw dropped" when he realised he had inadvertently helped the pair The Mounties were unable to confirm the sighting of the fugitives in York Landing

The Mounties were unable to confirm the sighting of the fugitives in York Landing They have redirected their efforts back to the Gillam area

Local man Tommy Ste-Croix said he helped two men remove their Toyota RAV4 from the field in the Alberta city of Cold Lake, 150 kilometres to the west of Meadow Lake, where the pair were spotted in the same car later in the day.

Two days later, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) in Manitoba announced Mr McLeod and Mr Schmegelsky were regarded as suspects in the murders of Australian Lucas Fowler and his American girlfriend, Chynna Deese, and charged with the shooting murder of 64-year-old Leonard Dyck.

Mr Ste-Croix told CBC News he was shocked when he later saw the news on social media, saying his "jaw dropped".

"They were polite with me. You know if they really, really wanted me, I could be dead," he told CBC.

"They had the opportunity to grab the truck. I was alone with them. I was behind the SUV tying it up and they pretty much had a brand new truck to take off with. My wallet was in there. But they didn't."

The pair's burnt-out car was later found near the town of Gillam, Manitoba, more than 1,400 kilometres from Cold Lake.

"I hope they get caught, turn themselves in [and] face the consequences if they did do it and let justice do its thing," Mr Ste-Croix said.

The RCMP confirmed to ABC News they were looking into Mr Ste-Croix's claims.

Police withdraw from remote indigenous community

On Wednesday, Canadian police withdrew their forces from the York Landing area, a remote indigenous community where they were investigating a possible sighting of the fugitives.

Hercules military aircraft and hundreds of Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) officers were deployed to York Landing after volunteers from the Bear Clan Patrol reported a possible sighting of the pair at a local dump, foraging for food.

The Mounties were unable to confirm the sighting.

"The heavy police presence in York Landing has been withdrawn and policing resources in the community will return to normal," the RCMP announced in a tweet.

The focus of the search will return to the areas surrounding the town of Gillam, Manitoba, 200 kilometres from York Landing, where a burnt-out car linked to the fugitives was found.

"RCMP resources remain in the Gillam area, and will continue to conduct searches in high-probability areas for any signs of the suspects," the RCMP said.

The search of remote areas is being conducted both on foot and from the air.

Animal attacks a possibility in Gillam area

Experts have described the terrain in Manitoba as formidable and dangerous. ( Twitter: RCMP )

On Wednesday morning (AEST), the RCMP said it had received more than 260 tips in the past week, but none had established that the suspects were outside the Gillam area.

It reminded the public that it was "possible the suspects inadvertently received assistance and are no longer in the area".

The manhunt, which has now spanned three provinces, is into its eighth day.

Bryer Schmegelsky and Kam McLeod are suspects in three murders. ( Supplied: RCMP Manitoba )

Sherman Kong, whose Maple Leaf Survival company in Winnipeg teaches wilderness and extreme cold weather survival tactics, said the terrain around Gillam was dense and swampy.

It is inhabited by wildlife like bears, as well as insects "that are relentless and quite abundant".

The fugitives are suspects in the shootings of Chynna Deese, 24, and her Australian boyfriend Lucas Fowler, 23. ( Supplied )

Mr Kong said there was a possibility the two may have died from an animal attack, dehydration, a serious injury or other causes.

But he said that every year, people without formal training survived being lost in the wilderness.

"If we expect these two gentlemen are motivated, and even if they have a certain level of survival skills, that coupled with their intent on not being captured, can often be enough to allow someone to remain at large in the bush and survive longer," he said.

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