Calgary fire crews called to Harvie Passage for unconscious male pulled to shore by bystanders

Shortly after 5:00 p.m. on Monday, June 28, Calgary fire crews, including the downtown aquatics team, responded to the Harvie Passage area for reports of an unconscious adult male who was witnessed struggling in the water and was pulled to shore by bystanders. Bystanders including two off duty firefighters started CPR immediately. When fire crews arrived, they took over CPR, applied the AED (Automated External Defibrillator) and administered oxygen. Patient care was then transferred to EMS very shortly after and he was transported to an area hospital.

While the patient was being loaded into the ambulance, members of the aquatics crew witnessed a boy in a "pool floatie" not wearing a lifejacket, capsize in the river near Harvie Passage, being dragged further downstream by the strong current. Aquatics members were able to position the rescue boat downstream and picked him up out of the water, bringing him safely to shore. 

The Calgary Fire Department has responded to many water rescue incidents in recent days, especially since the Calgary temperatures have started to climb and citizens are looking for a place to cool off. Before venturing onto the water, please visit calgary.ca/watersafety to ensure you are prepared with all the right equipment, correct information and appropriate skill level for the location you are planning to visit. Please remember, where there is water, there is risk. 

-30-