Man whose father drowned in North Saskatchewan River calls for more warnings – Edmonton | 24CA News
An Edmonton man whose dad died within the North Saskatchewan River in April 2021 believes extra warnings, indicators and consciousness campaigns might stop comparable tragedies.
“Two years ago, my father had gone into the river,” Strider White mentioned.
“He drowned while saving a stranger’s dog on the ice.”
White got here all the way down to the river Monday after listening to an adolescent had been swept away within the water on Sunday.
“I heard about the missing young man and I wanted to take a look at what the police operations were down here in terms of search and rescue and recovery,” he mentioned. “I’ve to thank the primary responders, the fireplace crews, search and rescue, everybody that’s come out.
“The very first thing that I considered was the household.
“I can’t imagine what it would be like for a 14-year-old boy to go in like that and lose him… having experienced that myself.
“My heart is right there with them.”
White was really out within the river on Sunday as effectively.
“I’m a bigger guy. I was standing in the water up to my knees. I was actually just around the corner when this happened. It was pushing me over and I’m a grown adult… I can’t imagine a 14-year-old boy.”
White mentioned his dad went within the river round Buena Vista Park and his physique was recovered a number of weeks later close to Groat Road.
“His circumstance was a bit distinction due to the ice. There had been witnesses that noticed him go underneath the ice. Our interpretation of that was he wouldn’t be alive. Of course, we’re all the time nonetheless hopeful.
“After they found him it was like the whole thing over again,” White added.
“This obviously brings up those memories.
“The main aspect of this is attention to the safety of the river here. I believe we need more public focus and attention on the dangers this river poses. It’s beautiful but it’s dangerous.”
He’d wish to see extra indicators across the riverbank warning folks.
“I would like to have more public information and more awareness and attention put on how dangerous this is, especially at this time of year,” White mentioned.
Around 5 p.m. Sunday, 4 youngsters had been swimming within the North Saskatchewan River close to Terwillegar Park, police mentioned. One of the kids obtained caught within the present and was carried downstream.
Police started trying to find the boy on Sunday night and had been joined by associate businesses, together with Edmonton Fire Rescue Services, Park Rangers, Strathcona County Fire and Search and Rescue.
The search continued Monday however as of 5:30 p.m., the teenager had not been discovered.
White mentioned the news introduced again recollections of his father’s demise.
“Of course it’s devastating. I’m nonetheless reeling from the lack of that.
“He went out the best way he was. He was a hero. He actually gave all the things he had — together with his life — to guard another person or one thing else.
“I may very well be offended at this river. I may very well be afraid of this river. But I really feel that particularly by the occasions of my father, what’s occurred not too long ago, I really feel compelled to come back not less than someway make a distinction.
“If some kind of message can go out that would save one person’s life or maybe one animal’s life than this is totally worth it — coming out and facing what could potentially be a huge fear to try and help in some way.
“It’s dangerous any time of the year.”
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