Photo by Photo Submitted
ASSIGNMENT IN THE WATER – Constable Byron MacLean works with the canoe involved in last week’s rescue of a couple who ran into difficulty on the Pelly River. Photo courtesy RCMP
RCMP rescue pair of canoeists
A couple was rescued last week from the Pelly River near Faro.
A couple was rescued last week from the Pelly River near Faro. Last Friday evening, Faro RCMP responded to a call for assistance from a man located on an island on the river, police said in a statement released Thursday afternoon.
Due to high waters, the man and his wife had struck a submerged tree stump, causing their canoe to capsize in a fast-flowing section of the river.
Two Faro RCMP officers, Constables Byron MacLean and Chris Christinger, departed via boat.
At the location, they confirmed the couple was OK and was able to remove their canoe and belongings from the river. The couple was returned to shore in the RCMP boat.
The same day, as reported in yesterday’s Star, a couple was rescued by Haines Junction RCMP by helicopter at a cabin outside the village.
They were stranded for three weeks after their quad rolled while they were trying to cross the river.
The water level and logs jamming the river made it impossible for them to leave the site.
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Comments (3)
Up 2 Down 1
spud on Aug 1, 2017 at 4:19 pm
I can't think of anything more dangerous on flowing water, rivers or streams of any size than sweepers....all amateurs should take a course or at least a few trips with an experienced person. Competing with this on the Pelly a few years ago a member of the RCMP was hunting when a grizzly jumped into the river in pursuit, luckily he had his rifle. The skull indicated an old starving bear with broken teeth.
Up 8 Down 6
Josey Wales on Jul 29, 2017 at 4:59 pm
Hey just sayin'....I sorta agree with you, but out there things happen...ya get messed up. A simple ankle twist can really screw up ones day in the wilds of our yard. Yes folks should know their limits and be prepared to that I agree. Regardless of the story that has squat to do with us...some folks are now dry and not missing from the table.
For that is a good thing from my perspective....just sayin'.
Up 10 Down 1
Just Say'in on Jul 29, 2017 at 1:19 pm
That stump looks pretty obvious to me. Hitting sweepers like this will kill you. People should have more experience proven before renting canoes and taking off into the wilderness. Maybe they should start in the Kiddy Pool.