Members of the Prince Albert Police Service assisted the Prince Albert Fire Department and Parkland Ambulance over the weekend with a river rescue after a man entered the freezing waters of the North Saskatchewan River.
First responders were called to the 200 Block of River Street West Sunday November 29th in the afternoon at approximately 3:20 p.m. and immediately began preparing to row out to the ice to help the man to safety. Once in the water, the man was able to grab on to a patch of ice and pull himself up until first responders could reach him.
Numerous police members from D Platoon assisted with this rescue and communicated with the man using a loudspeaker to ensure he stayed calm and knew help was on the way. Police Cst. Darcy Burns donned a wetsuit and joined members of the Prince Albert Fire Department as they rowed out on the river to reach the individual.
The ice on the river and the strong current made it tougher to paddle through the water.
“I’ve never been a part of something like that,” Cst. Burns said Monday. “It was a challenging but rewarding experience, and I’m glad we were able to help this resident and ensure his safety.”
Once back on shore, the 42-year-old man was taken to hospital by Parkland Ambulance for further care and treatment. The Prince Albert Police Service’s Police and Crisis Team (PACT), has followed up with the man to ensure he has access to resources available through the Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA).
Staff with the City of Prince Albert also attended to the scene to place barricades around the area during the rescue to ensure the safety of the public.
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