Two families got a little more adventure than they bargained for on the Bow River Monday when their group of four rafts became wrapped around an abutment under the Louise Bridge.
All nine rafters, including young children, were plucked from the fast-moving river by the Calgary fire department’s aquatic rescue team.
"Unfortunately, all the rafts were tied together," said Const. Ed Perkins of the Calgary police marine unit.
"That, of course, makes it very difficult to try and steer, which is exactly what happened when they hit the bridge abutment."
The team made four trips to retrieve the victims, who were uninjured but cold.
Jose Mesa, one of the adults in the boat, said it was the group’s first time trying rafting and no one was aware of the dangers of tying the boats together.
He said the rafts hit a rock and the next thing they knew they were wrapped around the concrete.
Perkins said there were a few people left standing in the water, which is a dangerous situation. With the rafts turned sideways, there is thousands of pounds of pressure, which can pin a person, he said.
Police and firefighters were already nearby for Operation Webfoot, a river education and enforcement program on the waterways over the long weekend. They were able to pull in the rafters from one side of the abutment while police rescued those on the other side.
Perkins said he was pleased to see all were wearing life-jackets and that there was no alcohol involved, but he noted there weren’t enough paddles in the boats.
He also reiterated that tying rafts together can lead to tragic consequences.
A family of four had to be rescued in June when their raft overturned near the Louise Bridge.
trhodes@theherald.canwest.com
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