New Westminster – On April 26, 2018 at approximately 6:00am the NWPD received a 911 call reporting that a male was spotted in the middle of the Fraser River.
Sergeant Smith, a member of NWPD’s Marine unit immediately launched Shaw 1, the NWPD boat, and responded to the area around the New Westminster Quay. Sergeant Smith, accompanied by Constable Tehennepe and Constable Joel, were on scene within minutes and managed to locate the man in the frigid waters and pull him to safety on board Shaw 1.
“Luckily we were able to get there as soon as we did,” stated Sergeant Smith. “The male appeared to be hypothermic and we knew every second counted.”
“The temperature of the Fraser River at this time of year is very cold due to the snow melt,” stated Media Relations Officer Sergeant Jeff Scott. “This could have ended in tragedy had it not been for the quick response of those members involved and their ability to successfully perform these rescues in highly stressful situations.”
The man was brought to shore where he was transported to a waiting ambulance. Officers will continue to investigate how the man ended in the river, but there is no foul play suspected.
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