Red Deer Emergency Services rescued 11 people from the Red Deer River Tuesday evening.
Glen Thomlison, platoon chief, said the four adults and seven children from Red Deer were out on the water when they got caught in the severe thunderstorm that hit the city around 8 p.m.
The storm forced their water craft to the side of the steep banks below Maskepetoon Park, just before the pedestrian bridge that leads to Heritage Ranch. They were unable to find a way off the river.
“We responded in our rescue river boat and all passengers were able to get into the boat,” Thomlison said.
Everyone was in good spirits despite being cold and shivering, he added.
One boat, one medic, one city utility vehicle and a total of seven emergency service workers were dispatched to the scene.
The rescued individuals started their rafting trip near Normandeau. They were driven back to their vehicles after the incident.
Thomlison urged everyone to use extreme caution when out on the water, saying the Red Deer River is currently running fairly high.