Bystander Assists Calgary Fire Department with Water Rescue

 

Shortly before 2:00 pm today, Calgary Fire Department Aquatics Rescue crews were called to the center street bridge and the Bow river for a water rescue. When crews arrived they found three people in the river, with two of the people attempting to pull the third to shallow water and out of the current . Rescue personnel entered the water and quickly removed the person in distress and assited the other two people to shore. Apparently one of the would be rescuers was walking near the river when he heard someone in distress calling out for assistance, he then saw a person hanging from a partialy submerged tree limb and immediately enterd the water and went to their aid. He was able to get the person to let go of the branch and was struggling to get them back to shore when a second bystander came to assist. The two had managed to get the person closer to shore when Calgary Fire Auquatics Rescue crews arrived and removed all three from the river. On scene Alberta Health Services staff assesed one person but did not transport . The person rescued from the river later admitted to wanting to go for a swim because of the warm temperatures and underestimated how cold the water was and how fast the current is.No other injuries were reported .

 The Calgary Fire Department reminds Calgarians that if they choose to use the river for recreation to make good choices about water safety . Have Personal Flotation Devices, dont swim alone, dont consume alcohol on the river.