Firefighters, canoeists rescue woman from river

Aug 4, 2017 | 6:00 PM

North Battleford firefighters and a group of canoeists came to the rescue of a young woman in distress in the North Saskatchewan River near North Battleford Thursday afternoon.

Battlefords RCMP report they received a call at about 1 p.m. from people in a canoe who saw a young woman jump into the river from a nearby platform near the main boat launch. 

“It was fortunate that they happened to be on a canoe trip up-river, and they just happened to come by at the right time,” Sgt. Neil Tremblay said. 

Tremblay confirmed police, the fire department and the ambulance arrived at the scene shortly after receiving the call.

Tremblay said at first the woman appeared to try to evade the three people in the canoe, but eventually they were able to encourage her to get into the canoe and head to shore.

When the fire department arrived, four firefighters rescued the woman.

“They went out to assist and got her back to shore safely,” Tremblay said.

He said the woman who is from the local area appeared to be fine and was transported by ambulance to hospital for treatment following the rescue.

“At this point, it appears to have been a mental health issue,” Tremblay said. “She didn’t lose consciousness, and there was no indication she was under water at any time. She is perfectly healthy the last we heard.”

 

angela.brown@jpbg.ca

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