CANMORE – A two-year-old girl died following a rescue from the frigid Bow River near the Bow River Campground in Canmore Thursday (June 8) evening.
Canmore Fire-Rescue responded to the scene shortly before 5 p.m., with a report of two people in the Bow River. A jet boat with three firefighters launched from the Three Sisters boat launch, Canmore Fire Chief Lance Bushie said.
He said one person was located safely and the two-year-old girl was found shortly after, at which point they began CPR.
The crew met paramedics at the Three Sisters boat launch and took the toddler to Canmore General Hospital where she was pronounced dead, said Cpl. Troy Savinkoff, a public information officer for Alberta RCMP.
“They tried everything for over an hour,” Bushie said.
Savinkoff said a 911 call was made at 4:55 p.m. about the missing girl. He said the family had told first responders they had found a shoe belonging to the girl by the river. Multiple sources confirmed to the Outlook the family was from Saskatchewan.
Bushie said they were unaware of the events leading up to the call, but the fire crew arrived within 20 minutes of being called.
Diana Rinne, a senior communications advisor for Alberta Health Services, said the girl was taken to Canmore General Hospital shortly after 5 p.m. in life-threatening condition.
Savinkoff said police are still investigating, but no foul play is suspected at this time. He said the Chief Medical Examiner’s Office in Calgary will rule on the cause of death.
STARS Air Ambulance, Alpine Helicopters, Kananaskis Mountain Rescue, paramedics, provincial conservation officers, RCMP traffic services and Canmore RCMP were also on the scene. The Outlook reached out to the different services and will update the story when we hear back.
Blake Robert, a communications officer for STARS, said the air ambulance was stood down when they were not medically required. A request to speak to Kananaskis Mountain Rescue was denied by the province, which referred all comments in regards to Kananaskis Mountain Rescue's role in the rescue to Canmore Fire-Rescue.
Bushie said at all times people should be aware when they’re near water, always be cautious and mindful of their surroundings.
“There’s a lot more people around the river with the hot weather, so it’s something people should be careful of with the current in the Bow River,” he said.
“Any time you’re around the water, everyone should keep a close eye. … Anybody, regardless if they’re kids or adults, the Bow River is a very fast river. There are parts of the river where the current is very fast. Water safety around the river is very important.”
Bushie said all responding services did all they could in the coordinated effort.
“The crew did everything they could. They were there as fast as they could," he said.
"Our hearts go out to the family. It’s a very difficult time."
