Photo courtesy Alberta RCMP
ONOWAY, Alta. — A man and two children were safely rescued from Devil’s Lake on Wednesday evening after their inflatable sport boat became disabled and stranded in weeds, according to Parkland RCMP.
Police received a report at approximately 7:55 p.m. on June 3 of a boat in distress on the lake, just east of Onoway. An adult male and two children were on board when the motor failed, leaving the vessel unable to move.
The man made extensive efforts to restart the motor and was described by police as being prepared for the situation. However, after exhausting all available options, the group contacted police for assistance.
Thanks to the detailed location information provided by the caller, first responders were able to quickly deploy the detachment boat, locate the adult male and the two children, and rescue them without incident. No injuries were reported.
“Being prepared for emergencies on the water can make all the difference in getting home safely,” said Corporal Cuneyt Zanbak of the Parkland RCMP. “Have a plan, bring a charged cell phone and tell someone where you’re going. In the event of an emergency, first responders will be able to locate you quickly.”
The rescue serves as a reminder for boaters to carry communication devices and share their plans with someone on shore before heading out onto the water.
