Fire Department Aquatics Crews Kept Busy on The River

Calgary Fire Department aquatic rescue crews were kept busy today with several rescues. One involved two adult females that launched their raft inside the safety boom at Harvie Passage. They quickly lost control and were thrown from their raft into the water while going over the first fall. One of the victims was able to get to shore on their own. The second female continued through the falls and was caught in the hydraulic of the last set of falls. After being tossed around for a period of time she was able to get out of the current and was aided to shore by a bystander. Rescue crews assisted the first person from the island to shore. One of the victims received a cut to her leg that will require medical attention. After being checked by medics they decided to seek  aid on their own. A short time after that incident a call was received for 8 people in the water in the Bowness area that had fallen from their rafts. An adult female and two children made their way to a bridge abutment and were removed by Fire Rescue boat. A fourth person kept floating down the river and was found on shore down river. In these situations all people were wearing life jackets.

Several other calls were responded to providing aid to people stranded on islands in the river after falling from rafts. It seems in all cases people under estimate the danger the river provides. Harvie Passage remains closed for the season. Today provided several examples of the need of life jackets for personal safety.