The Hanover fire department says two people who were rescued on the Saugeen River did everything right.
They say on Saturday, June 20th, at about 12:30 p.m. they were called for a water rescue on the river in the area of Hanover Park.
Firefighters say a canoe with two people and their dog capsized in the river and the people were stranded on a fallen tree in the middle of the river.
Firefighters responded alongside police and paramedics. Crews deployed the firefighters rescue boat and successfully rescued both people and their dog without injury.
They say the stranded people had life jackets on and they also had a means of communication.
Bystanders used the What3Words app to pinpoint their exact location on the river, which firefighters say played a key role in guiding the rescue boat directly to them. What 3 Words is a system that has mapped every part of the world and assigned three words to each block of three square metres. You can download the app on your phone and use it to describe your unique location no matter where you are, even if there’s no relevant street address.
Firefighters say the incident is a great example of being ‘boat smart’ on the water. They say the people who were rescued did everything right, including wearing properly fitted personal flotation devices, carrying a means of communication and being prepared in the event of an emergency.
They say, “We encourage everyone heading out on the water to follow their lead. Wear your personal flotation device, bring a way to call for help, and know your route and conditions before you go.”