NEWS RELEASE
ROYAL CANADIAN MOUNTED POLICE
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On Friday June 12, 2020, Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) officers from the Hamilton Niagara Regional Detachment Border Integrity unit rescued two people after their kayaks had overturned.
In the early afternoon, while conducting marine and land patrols on the Lower Niagara River, an RCMP officer noticed a kayaker in distress in the waters near the Queenston Sand Docks. The officer heard screams for help and noted one kayak had overturned and a woman in the fast flowing waters.
The woman was clinging to a fallen tree and was in extreme distress. A male was also seen in the water but close to shore. The RCMP officer waded into the fast current to where the woman was and pulled her out of the water with the assistance of the male who had also come to assist.
Shortly after the rescue, the male re-entered the water to retrieve both kayaks that were now moving upstream. The RCMP Marine unit was in attendance and moved in to retrieve the male and the kayaks from the river and brought them back to shore.
The two individuals were shaken by this incident but not injured and did not require medical attention.
“Now that the summer months are upon us, and citizens are drawn to water activities, the public needs to be aware of the extreme river currents of the Niagara River. The public should never underestimate the power of water currents. Boat operators, swimmers or waders in the open waters who underestimate the power of currents can be swept away instantly,” stated Inspector Ann Koenig, officer in charge of the Hamilton-Niagara Regional RCMP Detachment. “The RCMP is committed to enhancing the safety of our communities and citizens.”
Anyone with information regarding criminal activity is encouraged to contact their local police, the RCMP at 1-800-387-0020 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS.
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