Risks beneath the water: experts share swimming safety tips as search for missing boy continues

As the search continues for a 14-year-old boy who went missing while out swimming in the North Saskatchewan River over the weekend, rescue and safety experts are urging people to be careful around bodies of water.

Edmonton police say four teens were swimming in the river near Terwillegar Park around 5 p.m. Sunday when one of the boys got caught in the current and was carried downstream.

By 5:30 p.m. Monday, police said the boy was still not found.

BACKGROUND: Police, fire looking for teen who went missing in North Saskatchewan River Sunday evening

Several agencies, including the Search and Rescue Dog Association of Alberta, have joined Edmonton police in the ongoing water search.

“What we’re hoping is to put the dog in the position of locating the scent of the missing person that is presumed drowned,” said Mary-Ann Warren, a training director and dog handler.

“So we ourselves are maybe looking for a sign, clothing, or something else that the missing person may have had that ended up on the shoreline. The dog is looking with his nose to pick up the scent of the person possibly under the water.”

Search and Rescue Dog Association of Alberta on June 5, 2023. (Laura Krause/CityNews)

Police have not publicly shared the boy’s identity, but they say the family was notified. Witnesses have described the teen as having a dark complexion, black hair and was last seen wearing grey shorts.

“Our goal is to help locate, whether it’s two hours or 24, or two weeks. Our mindset is to come out here and do the best job we can,” said Warren.

While the North Saskatchewan River may look relatively calm, the Lifesaving Society warns of the risks beneath the water.

“A current could pull you under, and once you’re caught in it, it’s very difficult to reorientate yourself, especially if you’re held under water,” said Jonathan Kusyanto, the group’s executive director. “The other thing to consider is the water temperature. Cold water shock can take over and that can affect the strength of your muscles and your coordination.

“You add in the undercurrent and you also add in underwater debris like rocks, or large logs or sticks, and those can also easily get a limb or your clothing caught, and that could keep you submerged as well.”

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Calm waters on the surface are not always a sign of what’s below, warns Kusyanto.

“Swimming in moving water, especially things like the North Saskatchewan, the water’s not always very clear, you can’t see the bottom, there’s sudden drop offs or depths, rocks and debris,” he said. “So even as the strongest swimmer, even on a slow day in the river, a current like that can easily tire you out, and even if you are a strong swimmer and you think you can swim again or with the current, there are underwater hazards that can easily injure you.”

Kusyanto says it’s important for people to be prepared.

“If you’re going out for the day, always have a plan,” he said. “Let someone responsible know your plan before you go so that they know where you’re supposed to be, when you’re going to be home, and be prepared to call for help so if something does go wrong. Do you have cell reception? Do you know your location?

“We recognize while it’s fun to enjoy the water, it can be dangerous, and safety is a shared responsibility. So if you are recreating on in and around water with your loved ones or your friends this summer, please keep that in mind that you know anything could go wrong, and it could be a matter of seconds. So take that time to be safe and to look out for one another.”

Mary-Ann Warren with the Search and Rescue Dog Association of Alberta on June 5, 2023. (Laura Krause/CityNews)

Police are asking anyone on or near the water to watch for anyone in distress.

“Everybody is out here having a good time when it’s hot out,” said Warren. “While this river doesn’t look terribly dangerous, there is an undertow in there, so if you’re not a strong swimmer you could get carried away by that, so just be careful when you’re having fun.”