As officers arrived on the scene they saw an adult male in the river being swept downstream with the strong current. Officers shouted to the man to swim towards the edge of the ice. He continued downriver for about 50 feet before he was able to grab hold of the ice.

One of the RCMP officers who was at the call was certified as an Ice Rescue Technician. Using other responders as his anchor he tied the rope from a throw bag around his chest and crawled out onto the ice. By this point the male was beginning to lose consciousness and was in danger of slipping under the water.

The officer was able to grab hold of the victim and the pair were pulled to safety. The officer and the victim were taken to the nursing station. The officer was not injured but the male victim suffered minor injuries.

The RCMP say that ice rescue training is offered to its officers and over the past nine years around 90 officers have completed the program.

© News4.ca 2021