Melfort Fire and Rescue responded to a water rescue in the RM of Flett’s Springs where an SUV and driver were stranded in the water, approximately 150 feet from the shore.
The department responded to the call at 8:38 a.m. on Oct. 1, from a bystander who saw the occupant stranded.
The SUV was resting on rocks and a murky bottom. It is not known how the vehicle and occupant got into the body of water at this time.
“It was too deep to walk out,” said Jason Everitt, Melfort’s fire chief.
The occupant was alert and calm, and it is believed they were there for a number of hours before they were noticed.
“We were able to use our inflatable rescue craft, or rapid deployment craft, and two members in immersion suits,” Everitt said. “We were able to get safely out to the vehicle and transfer the occupant from the vehicle to our rescue craft and back to shore.”
The occupant was transferred to waiting paramedics, assessed and transported to hospital.
Fire crews then assisted the tow operator with attaching the recovery cable to the vehicle.
Everitt said this is the first time the department has used the inflatable rescue craft and immersion suits outside of training.
“It worked well, and it was quickly put into service.”
