Winnipeg, MB – At 2:06 a.m. on Friday, October 21, 2022, the Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service (WFPS) responded to reports of an individual being swept down the Assiniboine River, moving towards The Forks.
The WFPS drone was launched and crews were positioned along the riverbank to search for the victim. At 2:24 a.m. crews located the individual near The Forks footbridge, approximately three metres from shore. Firefighters entered the water and were able to bring them to safety. The patient was then transported in the WFPS Zodiac to a waiting ambulance. Paramedics assessed the individual and transported them to hospital in stable condition.
At this time, it is not known how long the individual was in the water or why.
Residents are reminded to exercise caution around all waterways at this time of year. Rivers, streams, and retention ponds are dangerous and cold. With cold weather on the horizon, parents and educators should remind children about the risks of cold water and thin ice.