A Saskatoon police officer helped keep a teenager’s head above water after the boy became trapped in a rapidly filling storm drain during heavy rain.
Emergency crews were called at about 8 p.m. on August 14 to a dog park near the South Saskatchewan River, after receiving reports that a young man was trapped in the stormwater system.
According to the City of Saskatoon’s water and waste operations department, four teenage boys had entered the stormwater system through an outfall. When heavy rain began, the storm sewers quickly started filling with water.
Three of the teenagers managed to escape, but the fourth was swept toward an outfall covered by a grate, where he became trapped by the force of the water.
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Before emergency responders arrived, the other three teenagers attempted to divert some of the water away from their friend so he could continue breathing, police told media. The teens were later moved away from the immediate area while rescue efforts continued.
A Saskatoon Police Service patrol officer was among the first emergency personnel to arrive and entered the storm drain, where he found the teenager pinned against a grate by a significant flow of stormwater.
With Saskatoon Fire Department crews still on their way, the officer crawled farther into the drain and reached through the bars to hold the teenager’s head above the rising water.
The officer remained in position until firefighters arrived and a rescue operation could be coordinated.
After nearly two hours, emergency crews were able to free the teenager and bring him to safety. He received medical attention at the scene before being transported to hospital by paramedics.
Police praised the responding officer and emergency crews for their actions during the rescue.
“Policing forces our officers to enter uncertain situations, make critical decisions and act when someone needs help most,” Saskatoon police said in a statement. “It is challenging, meaningful work — and an opportunity to truly be the difference.”
