Two 10-year-old girls were rescued from the Sturgeon River after they lost hold of a floatation device.
The RCMP released information on the incident Tuesday. They said they got a call for assistance at 6:41 p.m. on Monday. Witnesses saw the girls about 200 yards out on the river, where they became separated from a floatation device. The girls appeared to be in distress and were struggling to keep themselves above water.
According to police, a man and two teenagers swam to them with a large piece of styrofoam in hand. They caught up with the girls and returned them to shore.
“All involved were extremely exhausted but otherwise in good health,” the RCMP reported in a press release. They reminded members of the public to stay safe around water, and called on parents to keep a close eye on their children.
Drowning, they noted, is one of the leading causes of accidental death for young people in Canada.
