A routine patrol turned into a rescue for two Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) officers on May 22, 2024. The officers were patrolling northbound on Highway 18, approximately 10 kilometres north of Killarney when they witnessed a southbound car lose control and overturn into a water-filled ditch on the west shoulder of the highway.
The officers immediately stopped their patrol vehicle. While one officer called for an ambulance, the other officer rushed to the submerged car. Braving the cold water, the officer managed to extricate the driver through the open passenger window and bring him to safety. The officer then re-entered the water to ensure there were no other occupants in the vehicle.
The driver, a 20-year-old male from Killarney, suffered minor injuries in the accident. He was promptly transported to a local hospital, where he received treatment and was later released.
Sergeant Eric Descoteaux, the senior officer on the scene from Turtle Mountain RCMP, praised the young driver for wearing his seatbelt, which he believes played a crucial role in saving his life. “We are just so relieved that we happened to be in the right place to witness this collision and that we could respond immediately,” said Sgt. Descoteaux. “Some days, being a first responder is heartbreaking, but because we were in the right place at the right time, and my partner jumped in that water so quickly, today was not one of those days.”
Image submitted by Manitoba RCMP
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