Four ejected from raft near Edworthy Park

The Calgary Fire Department was called to the Bow River after four people were ejected from their inflatable raft.

At about 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, the fire department’s aquatic unit was dispatched to an area near Edworthy Park, to a report of a raft hitting a bridge abutment and the occupants being tossed into the water. All four people were wearing jackets and two of them floated to a small island.

“Two didn’t make it to the smaller island but went further downstream where they made their way safely to shoreline,” said Battalion Chief Stu Laird. “Our crews on boat found them, allowed them entry to our fire department boats and took them back upstream so they could be assessed by Alberta Health Services.”

The other pair were also picked up and were assessed on scene by paramedics. Laird said flow rates are high, making it harder to manoeuvre through the water.

“One of the things we would pass on to people using the waterways at this time  of year is to give yourself a lot more time when you’re avoid those, and steer well clear of those abutments because the margin for error lessens when the flow rates are so high.”

He said the fire department is doing more patrolling on the water because the weather is getting warmer and flow rates are higher. Laird expects to see more incidents like this one over the spring and summer.

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