Winnipeg, MB – At 6:06 p.m. on Sunday, June 5, 2022, the Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service (WFPS) responded to reports of a male youth in the Red River, between Victoria Crescent and South Drive. The 9-1-1 caller reported that the person was holding on to a log as the river current carried him downstream.
The WFPS Water Rescue team was deployed, launching their Zodiac boat from St. Vital Park. They made contact with the individual north of Tod Drive, roughly one kilometre from where he was first seen. He was safely taken into the rescue boat and brought to shore at 6:23 p.m.
The patient was transported to hospital in stable condition by paramedics.
At this time, it is not known how the individual came to be in the water, or how long he was there.
Last year, WFPS responded to approximately 150 water rescue calls. WFPS asks parents, guardians, and educators to take some time to speak to children of all ages about the dangers of river banks, streams, drainage ditches, and retention ponds. This is especially important when the children are old enough to be left unsupervised and may be playing with friends in their neighbhourhood.
Residents are advised of the following water safety tips:
- All waterways should be considered hazardous at this time, including rivers, streams, retention ponds, and ditches.
- High and swift moving waters are extremely dangerous and cold and should be avoided as there is seen and unseen debris in the water.
- Stay away from the banks of rivers and waterways. Banks are unstable and the volume of moving water can easily sweep someone away.
- Dog owners are reminded to keep their dogs on leash around waterways to prevent them from chasing geese or ducks into the water
For more information, see river conditions and review these water safety tips.