Fisherman rescued from reservoir by RCMP

J.W. Schnarr
Southern Alberta Newspapers – Lethbridge

Taber/Vauxhall RCMP are reminding residents of the importance of wearing a personal flotation device after a man wearing a PFD was rescued from Scope Reservoir south of Hays.

RCMP responded to a call to assist a 65-year-old man calling for help in the water at around 10:50 a.m. on Wednesday. The man was too far from shore for witnesses to provide assistance.

Police made use of a rescue boat and were assisted by fire departments from Vauxhall, Hays and Taber. The man was successfully rescued from the water and received treatment from EMS at the boat launch.

He was then flown to Medicine Hat Regional Hospital by Helicopter Air Lift Operation, or HALO, as a precaution and for further assessment and care.
The man was fishing alone at the time of the incident. It is unclear how he came to be in the water, but police say he was there for “a couple hours” prior to rescue and was wearing a PFD.

In a news release, police stated this rescue is “yet further evidence of the life-saving effectiveness of wearing a PFD when doing any water activities.”

Get More Vauxhall Advance →