Man dies after being pulled from the river near Echo Dale

By Scott Schmidt on August 15, 2017.

Medicine Hat News
A 40-year-old man died at hospital after being rescued Tuesday afternoon from the South Saskatchewan River near Echo Dale Park.

A 911 call came in at approximately 3 p.m. regarding a male who was seen swimming in the river before going into distress and then under the water. A family member managed to get the man to a small island in the centre of the river, where minutes later a boat arrived with two males, who placed the 911 call.

The two men then took the victim and family member to shore where resuscitation efforts began.

Emergency services arrived soon after and continued efforts to revive the victim.

Members from the Medicine Hat Police Service, Medicine Hat Fire Department and EMS were all involved in recovery efforts, and thanks to that and the work of the two males, the victim was recovered and transported by ambulance to the Medicine Hat Regional Hospital.

Unfortunately, the recovery didn’t last and the man was pronounced dead at hospital.

The RCMP offers condolences to the family of the victim, who will not be named. No further information will be released on the incident.