Police are asking the public for help to find a 14-year-old Edmonton boy believed to have been caught in the current of the North Saskatchewan River and swept away over the weekend.
Edmonton Police spokesman Daniel Tames told The Epoch Times on June 5 that rescue crews are continuing to look for the youth who was last seen on June 4 at 5 p.m. local time.
“The search for the 14-year-old male resumed this morning with a number of partner agencies assisting. There are no updates at this time in the search,” said Tames.
Witnesses told police the teen had a dark complexion, black hair, and was last seen wearing grey shorts. EPS is asking members of the public to watch the river for any possible sightings of the teenager.
EPS said in the news release that they have “many resources committed to this search,” and Edmonton Fire Rescue Services (EFRS) are also assisting.
Multiple search and rescue crews from EPS, EFRS, and the Search and Rescue Dog Association of Alberta, had boats, helicopters, and a rescue dog out on the river searching on June 4, with the efforts continuing the next day.
Emergency crews could be seen trawling the river with long poles.
“We are working with the family of the teen to gather further information and that will be forthcoming,” said EPS.
The rescue team was forced to suspend search and rescue efforts on the evening of June 4 once darkness hit but resumed the search on June 5, assisted by EFRS, park rangers, and Strathcona Fire and Search and Rescue crews, according to the Edmonton Journal.
During the first week of June, emergency crews had warned that the North Saskatchewan River was unpredictable. This year by mid-May, there had already been dozens of rescues on or near the water, according to Global News.
