Rocky Mountain House Search and Rescue crews have conducted 10 water-related rescues since June.
Ed Van Heeran, Rocky Mountain House Search and Rescue president, said the number is higher than last year during the same period.
“We’re definitely on track for one of the busiest summers on the (North Saskatchewan) river,” he said.
The rescue group has conducted 18 rescues so far in 2018, eight of which were non-water related. The total number of rescues in 2017 was 28, four of which were water-related, said Van Heeran.
He said the number of people using the river is high this summer.
“Many more people are buying kayaks and canoes this year, and you see them all over the place this year, it’s becoming more popular,” he said.
In the most recent effort, crews rescued a group of boaters who had their canoe capsized in the North Saskatchewan River on Saturday.
Two of the boaters, a man and a woman, were exposed to the water and required medical attention.
“The boat got caught up in some trees,” said Heeran. “It was downstream of the Rustic River campground.”
RCMP were able to make contact with the group who were stranded on the east side of the river, north east of Rocky Mountain House.
RCMP Cpl. Laurel Scott said two people were treated for minor injuries.
She asks those involved in water sports to be mindful because “rivers in the province are flowing very fast.”
“Also the rivers are cold too.”
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