Olds RCMP are warning residents to “plan and prepare appropriately for excursions” after three people from Olds travelling down the Little Red Deer River had to be rescued late Sunday night.
A about 10:25 p.m. Sunday, June 5, Olds RCMP received a report that three travellers on the Little Red Deer River -- a male and two females from Olds -- were overdue.
They had launched onto the river at 5:30 p.m. near the intersection of Secondary Highway 766 and Range Road 32.
Their plan was to float to the Red Lodge camping area. They estimated the trip would take about two hours, according to police. A waiting relative grew concerned when the group was overdue by three hours.
“Attempts to locate the party using limited points with access from area roads to the river proved to be unsuccessful,” an Olds RCMP news release says.
“Olds Search and Rescue Society were called and attended the area to assist with efforts that could be safely conducted at night.”
A Calgary Police Service HAWCS 2 helicopter was brought in to assist.
Eventually, at 1:50 a.m., The HAWCS 2 crew reported they had located the individuals. They were brought to RCMP and ambulance personnel.
A woman in her 50s was treated by ambulance personnel for mild hypothermia.
“No member of the party was injured or hospitalized,” RCMP say.
“The distance the party would have had to cover was about 8.5 kilometres (km) as a direct route. Given the meandering nature of the river it effectively doubled the perceived distance to travel,” RCMP say.
Police say when the three people were rescued, the temperature in Olds was about 10 degrees Celsius with 11 kilometre per hour winds.
“The river is currently slow flowing and has about six inches of water, requiring one to walk in many areas,” the RCMP news release says.
"Attempts to locate the party using limited points with access from area roads to the river proved to be unsuccessful."OLDS RCMP
