CANMORE – Canmore Fire-Rescue plucked a woman from the shore of the Bow River near Larch Island via its rescue boat on Monday (Nov. 4).
While it was not a typical water rescue, EMS officials say the boat was used to transport an adult woman from the shore to a waiting ambulance by the Trans-Canada Highway boat launch near the Three Sisters turnoff at about 4:30 p.m.
“We transported an adult more for weather exposure concerns to Canmore Hospital,” said Stuart Brideaux, public education officer for Alberta Health Services EMS.
Kananaskis Mountain Rescue (KMR) was unavailable for comment because the Outlook was directed to the Alberta Forestry and Parks Minister Todd Loewen’s press secretary by the department's communication representatives.
“In the future, please direct emails and follow ups to me as the press secretary, and not to the department,” said Alexandru Cioban, Loewen’s press secretary in the email of the river rescue request.
The Town of Canmore would not let the fire department speak to the Outlook about Canmore Fire-Rescue’s role in the incident, deferring all comments to Kananaskis Mountain Rescue as the lead agency.
However, an emailed statement from the Town of Canmore at 1:20 p.m. Tuesday said Canmore Fire-Rescue (CFR) assisted KMR in responding to a call for assistance on the shore of the Bow River near Larch Island.
“KMR made their way to the individual requiring assistance on land while CFR travelled to the location by boat,” said Scott McKay, general manager of municipal services for the Town of Canmore in the email.
“The individual was located on shoreline and appeared physically uninjured. Responding agencies transported the patient to EMS by boat for assessment.”