River safety stressed again after another drowning

By Tim Kalinowski on August 17, 2017.

tkalinowski@medicinehatnews.com @MHNTimKal

The RCMP is urging the public to be more mindful of the hazards posed by the South Saskatchewan River in light of another drowning incident near Echo Dale Regional Park on Tuesday.

“My understanding is people were swimming prior to it happening,” confirms S-Sgt Sean Maxwell of the Redcliff RCMP. “Outside of that, I don’t have a lot of specifics. But when it comes to water safety in general, all we can do is encourage people to be aware of water hazards and take precautions.

“I desperately want people to respect what is on the river, and encourage proper water safety and the use of proper equipment. This is not just toward swimming, but toward boating and any recreational activity in relation to water.”

There have been two fatal drownings near Echo Dale Park in the past four months, and this follows a series of drownings province-wide this summer. August has been a particularly deadly month.

Gleichen RCMP recovered the body of a man Sunday who went missing after swimming in the Bow River near Siksika First Nation recently. Blackfalds RCMP report that a 57-year-old woman drowned Aug. 12 in Gull Lake, after the inflatable dingy she was in capsized. Meanwhile, on Aug. 10, Whitecourt RCMP were dispatched after a seven-year-old child drowned in the McLeod River.

“If you are going in the river all we can do is encourage people to know their limits,” stresses Maxwell. “Obviously, we have had a tragedy here; some people are missing a loved one, and our hearts go out to them. But the big picture you’ve got to look at is people should be as responsible as they can be around the river and other bodies of water.”

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