By paNOW

P.A. firefighters issue warning about river ice after weekend rescues

Apr 23, 2018 | 1:00 PM

The Prince Albert Fire Department is sounding the alarm bells after responding to multiple incidents of people falling through the North Saskatchewan River ice over the weekend.

“It’s a concern,” Deputy Chief Corey Rodgers told paNOW. “The chances of finding someone who falls through the river ice and gets taken away are slim.”

On Saturday afternoon the ice rescue crew successfully responded to a woman who went through the ice near the 100 block of River St. E. She’d become hypothermic and her legs were immobile, though she was successfully rescued and taken to Victoria Hospital.

Rodgers said firefighters were called out again around 9:30 p.m. Sunday night when two people went into the water near the Diefenbaker Bridge.

“When crews got there they found two people in the water and they were able to throw a rope and get them back to shore,” Rodgers said. He was unable to confirm the age or gender of the individuals in the water, though he said they were treated by medical personnel after their rescue.

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With the spring thaw underway, the river ice conditions are deteriorating rapidly and Rodgers said the ice could break up any moment. Rodgers said he couldn’t understand what motivated people to risk their lives on thin ice over fast-moving, frigid water.

“Why anybody would want to go out there and risk it? I think people get curious, but it’s just not a smart idea,” he said. “Sometimes people may think they can cross the river, and kids especially.”

glenn.hicks@jpbg.ca

On Twitter:@princealbertnow