Parents and baby stranded on Thompson River rescued

KAMLOOPS – A fishing trip on the Thompson River near Kamloops on Saturday turned into what must have been a harrowing experience for a couple and their 15-month-old baby.

Kamloops Search and Rescue were called to help firefighters rescue the trio from their jet boat, which had become stuck on a sand bar in the river around 6:45 p.m., Nov. 15, search manager Alan Hobler says. They had been fishing when darkness fell and the boat hit the sand bar.

“It was cold, dark and miserable,” Hobler says. “They had a cover over their boat so they were able to stay dry.”

He says Search and Rescue called on Triton Environmental for use of its jet boat, and an operator who knows that section of the river.

Members of the swift water rescue team walked them through water to the rescue boat and took them to shore.

“They were doing fairly well,” Hobler says. “I suspect being stranded out there in the dark and the rain wasn’t too fun.”

To contact the reporter for this story, email Howard Alexander at halexander@infonews.ca. To contact the editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.