A Saskatoon police officer is being praised for their bravery in rescuing a teenage boy trapped in a storm drain by fast-flowing rainwater. The incident, considered life-threatening, was a tense situation for both the youth and emergency responders, according to Sean Thody, the deputy fire chief present at the scene.
Responding to a call near the 3700 block of Kinnear Avenue around 8 p.m. CST on Aug. 14, officers discovered the boy stuck in a storm drain, pushed against the grate by rushing water. Thody explained that trying to resist such a strong water flow was practically impossible.
The initial officer on the scene entered the drain, keeping the boy’s head above water until the fire department arrived to coordinate the rescue effort. Described as “organized chaos” by Thody, the operation involved using tools to widen the grate and create enough space for the teen to be safely removed.
Following a nearly two-hour rescue operation, the teenager was transported to the hospital. The police, withholding the officer’s identity, commended their exceptional courage in assisting during what could have been a fatal situation.
City officials reported that four teenage boys accessed the stormwater system through an outfall, and with the onset of rain, the storm sewers began to fill up. While three boys managed to escape, one was swept toward a grate-covered outfall and became trapped.
Prior to the arrival of emergency personnel, the other three teens worked to shield their friend from the water, allowing him to breathe. They were later relocated while the rescue unfolded. City authorities are cautioning residents against entering city infrastructure like sewers, bridges, or electrical substations, emphasizing that only authorized personnel should access these areas due to their high risk and should promptly report any safety concerns regarding city infrastructure.