Calgary police investigating after woman’s body found in Bow River

The body of woman was found in the Bow River on Thursday afternoon, according to Calgary police.

Officers were called to the riverside near Ogden Road and 42 Avenue S.E. at about 2 p.m. for a check on welfare, CPS said.

“Upon arrival, police discovered a parked vehicle close to the river with footprints leading down towards the water, and that a dog was wandering on the ice of the river,” police said.

“The dog was unharmed and eventually brought to safety.”

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Officers on the scene saw a body in the river.

EMS confirmed one person was declared dead near Carburn Park.

Calgary police said the medical examiner was being brought in for further investigation.

The Calgary Fire Department said two dogs were rescued from the area, including one that was seen in the water by the aquatic rescue team. Both were transferred to the care of bylaw services.

Firefighters transported the body to the shore by the aquatic rescue boat, the CFD said.

The department offered safety tips for Calgarians spending time near open water, particularly as temperatures are expected to warm up this weekend:

• If outdoors, only skate on City of Calgary or community rinks
• Always keep a safe distance from riverbanks and lakeshores to avoid accidentally falling through the ice
• Don’t walk on ice-covered bodies of water, including storm ponds
• If a person or an animal falls through ice into water, call 9-1-1. Do not attempt to rescue them yourself. Encourage the person to kick and pull themselves up onto the ice and roll, rather than walk, towards the shore
• If you see someone fall into the water, call 9-1-1 immediately and if they manage to get themselves out, reach or throw an aid to them, such as a branch or rope

The CFD also offered the following tips for anyone who does fall into the cold water:

• Stay calm and try to keep your head out of the water, control your breathing
• Call for help and keep your hands on the ice shelf
• Try to pull yourself up on the ice on your stomach and roll towards the shore, where the ice may be thicker
• If you can’t get out of the water in less than 10 minutes, stop kicking and trying to pull yourself out, and anchor yourself to the ice shelf. Continue to call for help

Karim Alimohd said he was walking along a path near the river when he saw a police helicopter flying overhead, which eventually flew low near the icy water, and he spotted the woman’s body.

He said a rescuer asked him for help pulling the body from the water, and emergency responders performed CPR.