Patient in critical condition following paddleboard incident near Bowness Park

At around 1:10 PM on July 23, 2026, fire crews responded to reports of a paddleboard user colliding with an abutment on the 85th Street N.W. Bridge by Bowness Park.

Crews arrived and an adult male victim was located face down in the water and attached to his paddleboard leash near the bridge abutment. The patient’s location was shared with responding boat crews and Calgary Police Service HAWKS was requested to provide aerial support.

CFD’s aquatic rescue boat arrived from downstream, reached the victim, who was brought to shore while crews performed CPR. Once on shore, CPR continued until the patient was transferred to Emergency Health Services-Alberta. Crews assisted with ongoing CPR before the patient was transported to Foothills Medical Centre in critical condition.

There was initial uncertainty about whether there was a second individual involved in the incident and CFD crews worked to confirm that all people had been accounted for. The second individual was identified as the 11-year-old son of the patient, who had floated downriver following the collision with the bridge abutment and was brought to shore by a bystander. EMS assessed the child and did not have any medical concerns.

"The patient did have a personal floatation device on, but with the power of the river and the current itself, the person was pulled under the water and was attached to the paddleboard by an ankle leash,” said Battalion Chief Bruce Barrs.

Standup paddleboards are increasingly popular on Calgary’s waterways and are trending within this year’s aquatic rescue incidents, including three paddleboarders rescued on the Bow River during the June 2026 high water event and river safety advisory.

The Calgary Fire Department reminds Calgarians that paddleboard ankle leashes are not safe for use on moving water. Paddleboard leash usage has resulted in at least two aquatic fatalities and other serious incidents in recent years. Please remember:

• There is a high risk of being pulled under water or getting the leash entangled, which can trap someone under water as the force of the river may make it impossible to detach the leash during an emergency.
• Do not use the ankle leash while paddleboarding on the river. If you’re worried about losing your board if you fall off, consider putting your phone number on the board. Using anchors on moving water poses a similar risk. 

Visit calgary.ca/watersafety for more information as well as calgary.ca/flood for the latest information on river conditions. 

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