Mother and son rescued after raft hits safety boom and overturns on Bow River

Calgary police say wearing life-jackets saved the lives of a family who ran into trouble Sunday while rafting on the Bow River, prompting a dramatic rescue.

The four were apparently trying to portage around Harvie Passage — a water park featuring rapids and boulders — when winds blew them back into the main current.

Their raft hit a safety boom and overturned, becoming stuck under the chain across the river, police said.

Two people made it safely to shore, but the mother and her 10-year-old son were clinging to the boom when the police marine unit came across the pair at about 5:45 p.m.

At that point, the mother yelled that she could no longer hold on, police said. The marine unit immediately lodged its boat against the boom, providing a stable platform to save the pair.

"Had the family not been wearing life-jackets, this would have had a tragic outcome," said Insp. Ryan Ayliffe. "There is no doubt the lives of this family were saved by wearing properly fitting life-jackets."

The Calgary Fire Department assisted in taking the mom and boy to shore before returning to tow the police marine unit boat out of the boom.

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