SASKATOON — The Saskatoon Fire Department dispatched its water rescue team Sunday to assist the RCMP in the search and rescue of several people at Poplar Bluffs Conservation Area, a nature preserve 18 kilometres south of the city.
The SFD received the call from the RCMP at 3:37 a.m. on Sunday, July 17, as they had been searching for two missing people who were ultimately found stranded on a sand bar.
The RCMP advised SFD that neither was injured but they needed assistance getting them from the sand bar in the middle of the river.
The water rescue team had the two individuals safely back to shore at 4:49 a.m. and no other details of how they got stranded on the sand bar were known.
The SFD was also at Poplar Bluffs late Saturday night to help in the search and rescue of one missing person.
The caller said they have been on a “party island” floating near three sand bars when they lost a member of their group.
One water rescue team with the Zodiak boat and the Battalion Chief were dispatched while notifications were also made to the Saskatoon Police Service, Corman Park Police and RCMP.
The RCMP was already on the scene when SFD’s water rescue team arrived and they began their search at 10:48 p.m.
SFD’s water rescue team searched the river from the boat while two others walked along the river's edge. A SPS plane was searching from the air.
At 10:58 p.m., the SFD boat crew found a person in the river up to his neck in water and was later brought to shore without injuries and did not need medical assistance.
The SFD is reminding everyone to always have a backup plan when going near, in or on the water.
- Inform someone of your plans and route, keep your mobile devices as charged as possible (don't drain them), and refrain from alcohol which affects judgment.
- The use of personal flotation devices is encouraged, and carry a whistle and flashlight.
- If you are using a vessel on the water, please review the requirements by Transport Canada for safe boat use on the water.
