SASKATOON – Saskatoon police and the fire department have been called to multiple incidents of people walking out onto the dangerous river ice this weekend.
On Saturday afternoon, two kids ventured a few metres onto the ice near the Sid Buckwold Bridge. Officials responded and spoke to youth.
At 9:30 a.m. on Sunday, two people walked on the ice from Rotary Park making it around 15 metres across the South Saskatchewan River.
Police say alcohol may have been involved.
Saskatoon Fire Department says people are not only risking their own lives but risking the lives of emergency workers who may be called upon in the event of a rescue.
“At this time of the year with the ice being as unstable as it is, we have a large amount of ice upsteam that has yet to break off and it is eventually going to come floating down the river, so it puts our rescuers at risk,” said Greg Sayer, acting battalion chief with the fire department.
“The current has eroded away the ice edge, and at the shore, the heat from the sun has weakened the ice.”
Officials say the river is flowing rapidly and hypothermia is possible in a matter of minutes.
Watch the video below: River ice break-up sparks warning from officials
Comments