Calgary emergency crews are reminding residents to exercise caution when using the city’s waterways after a person was left in critical condition while paddleboarding on Thursday afternoon.
Calgary Fire Department (CFD) crews said that an adult male was taken to hospital in life-threatening condition after his paddleboard collided with a bridge abutment near Bowness Park yesterday.
When fire crews arrived at the call by boat at 1:10 p.m. on July 23, they found the male face down in the water and attached to his paddleboard leash. They brought the victim to shore and performed CPR until he was transported to Foothills Medical Centre, read the news release.
A second individual involved with the scene was later identified as the 11-year-old son of the patient, who had floated downstream after that collision had occurred. The son was brought to shore by a bystander, and further medical assessment deemed him in healthy condition.
“The patient did have a personal flotation device, but with the power of the river and the current itself, the person was pulled under the water and was attached to the paddleboard by an ankle leash,” said CFD Battalion Chief Bruce Barrs.
CFD said that incidents involving standup paddleboards are becoming increasingly common on Calgary’s waterways. So far this year, they said that three rescues have already been conducted in relation to paddleboard use, all of which happened during June’s high water advisory.
In recent years, CFD said that two fatalities have happened as a result of paddleboard use. They reminded residents not to use the provided ankle leashes while on the Bow River, as this increases the risk of being pulled underwater.
“If you’re worried about losing your board if you fall off, consider putting your phone number on the board,” read the release.
Calgarians can visit calgary.ca/watersafety for more information and calgary.ca/flood for the latest updates on river conditions.
