Calgary Fire Department’s Aquatics Rescue Team Aids Stranded Family

At approximately 6:00 this evening the Calgary Fire Department responded to Hull’s Wood, in South Fish Creek Park to assist a family became stranded by the water.  Apparently, the mother of two called 911 after she had left her husband and two children in the park while she went to use the washroom.  When she returned to meet her family, she found that the icy path that she had earlier crossed had suddenly melted and formed a 10 meter wide stream of chilly flowing water.  Unsure of how to get her family safely across the stream she called to ask for help. The CFC Aquatics Rescue Team arrived, donned their rescue suits, and waded across the stream with their inflatable Rescue Raft.  The Father and his two Children, were fitted with Personal Flotation Devices, placed safely in the raft, and reunited with their concerned mother (and wife). What the family didn’t realize, at the time, was that the icy path they had crossed was actually Fish Creek and that, at the time they crossed the frozen stream, there was probably water flowing beneath the ice. Thankfully, the flowing water was less than half of a meter deep.

The Calgary Fire Department would like to remind you, that with the warming weather conditions, the ice along the rivers, streams, ponds, and lakes is very unstable.  Please be aware of your surroundings and stay clear of ice, especially ice over flowing water.

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