A child is in hospital after falling through an air vent on a Winnipeg sidewalk on Monday evening.
The Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service (WFPS) said the incident occurred around 8 p.m. in the 200 block of Ronald Street in the St. James area, when a metal grate — the type that typically covers an opening in a sidewalk — gave way.
WFPS assistant chief Ihor Holowczynsky said while officials can’t disclose details on the child’s age or the severity of the injuries, a quick response by rescue crews has them hopeful for a good outcome.
Holowczynsky said first responders were on the scene quickly — within five minutes of getting the call — and were able to rescue the child and remove them from the shaft within 20 minutes.
The crews used a tripod-based rope rescue, he said, which involved lowering a rescuer to assess the child’s injuries, “package” them appropriately so they would be safe during the removal from the shaft, and then winched them out to the surface.
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“This isn’t an everyday event. It’s quite a rare event in my experience,” Holowczynsky said.
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“Sure, it’s great to avoid (grates) where possible, but sometimes it’s not possible, and you just have to exercise due caution at all times.”
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