Edmonton police are still looking for a 14-year-old boy who was last seen in the North Saskatchewan River.
They’ve been joined by partner agencies, including Edmonton Fire Rescue Services, Park Rangers, Strathcona County Fire and Search and Rescue. Air 1 helicopter is also providing aerial surveillance.
Around 5 p.m. Sunday, four teenagers were swimming in the North Saskatchewan River near Terwillegar Park, police said.
One of the teens got caught in the current and was carried downstream.
Witnesses said the boy was wearing grey shorts, had black hair and has a dark complexion.
Edmonton police are working with the family and asking to public to keep watch.
On Monday morning, the Search and Rescue Dog Association of Alberta brought in volunteers and Twang the dog to come assist with the search.
The Search and Rescue Dog association is a volunteer organization that helps groups like the Edmonton police in conducting search and rescue operations.
Kerrie Drinkill, a 12-year volunteer, says that the reason she comes out to help is to work to provide the families of the missing with closure.
She also added that the search depends on a lot of different factors.
“The scent rises from the water and it just depends on the current (and) all kinds of conditions: the wind, the high banks, the age, how long the bodies have been in the water, stuff like that.”
As of 5:30 p.m. Monday, the teenager had not been located, police said.
The EPS Missing Persons Unit took over as the primary investigators in this search.
Search efforts were suspended Sunday night but resumed Monday morning.
Police ask anyone in the area to watch the water and areas around the river for anyone in distress.
Police stress the importance of knowing how dangerous the North Saskatchewan River can be. They add that the current can make it almost impossible to get out in some cases.
“This river is quite dangerous, especially if you don’t take caution. There’s a lot of obstacles in the water,” said Const. Jeff Eichmann, an officer with the Edmonton Police Marine unit.
“There’s swift moving water that people don’t realize how dangerous it is.
“It’s not like a lake where you can swim out and swim back in if you’re not wearing a life preserver,” Eichmann said.
“People need to remember that lifejackets are super important for this river.
“Once you get sort of sucked out into the river, you’ve got no recourse unless you’ve got specialty training… Life jackets, they’ll save your life,” Eichmann said.
Police said that “if it floats it’s a boat” and that people must follow Transport Canada guidelines.
“You need to have a plan,” Eichmann said.
“You have to have all the equipment on there that is required from Transport Canada and that includes a life jacket or personal floatation device.
“You need a buoyant heaving line and a whistle or a sounding device. Those have to be on there and we will be looking for it this year.”
Anyone who sees the missing teen can call police at 780-423-4567.
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