New West police officers rescued a boater when his dinghy couldn’t cope with the fast-moving current of the Fraser River.
A New Westminster Police Department news release stated that two of its officers were patrolling the Fraser River around 4:15 p.m. on Sunday, July 7 when they saw a man in a small inflatable dingy being swept down the river by the fast-moving current. Officers saw that the motor on the boat was not working and the man only had an oar to row against the current.
Using Shaw-1, the police department’s boat, the officers got close to the man and his boat and secured a tow line. In a matter of minutes, the officers delivered the man to the safety of the Quayside dock.
“We’d like to recognize our officers’ vigilance and proactive approach to keep mariners safe off the riverfront of New Westminster,” NWPD Sgt. Andrew Leaver said in a news release. “We’re here to help and that offer extends past the shoreline.”
According to the news release, the NWPD Marine Unit allows the New Westminster Police Department to provide a high level of service delivery to people using the waterways bordering New West.
The New Westminster Police Department is reminding people who spends time in and around waterways to familiarize themselves with how to stay safe. This includes wearing a properly fitted personal flotation device (PFD), using a radio, and boating respectfully.
