A 26-year-old woman who was pulled from the Puntledge River has died while her seven-month-old son, who was also rescued from the water, is in critical condition.
People noticed the two in the water just before 3 p.m. Friday. A massive rescue was undertaken by RCMP and Comox Search and Rescue near Condensory Road bridge. The child was quickly taken out of the river, and eventually airlifted to BC Children’s Hospital. It took crews until 4 p.m. to rescue the mother.
The massive rescue effort drew a large crowd of bystanders, with more than 50 people watching the search unfold, said Sinclair.
Once the woman was found, she was rushed to St. Joseph’s General Hospital in Courtenay. Despite the efforts of multiple medical workers, she was pronounced dead at 6:55 p.m.
The identity of the woman has not been released.
S/Sgt. Kevin Mazur of Comox Valley RCMP says “there is no indication that any third party was involved in the pair entering the water.”
There is still no indication of how the pair wound up in the water, but a vehicle has been found parked near the Condensory Bridge that officers believe belongs to the woman, said RCMP Const. Don Sinclair.
Investigators are asking anyone who may have seen the pair near or in the water before 2:40 p.m. on Friday to come forward. Sinclair said on Saturday afternoon that no one had contacted the detachment yet, to his knowledge.
He said the Puntledge River is a mountain-fed river, so the water on Friday was frigid. He reminded Comox Valley residents to practice water safety.
-with files from Canadian Press
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