Saskatoon fire crews searching river after reports of missing person, dog

Crews were searching the South Saskatchewan River in Saskatoon on Friday afternoon for a woman and a dog.

The Saskatoon Fire Department received reports at 11:50 a.m. CST about a woman and a dog being spotted in the river, Chief Doug Wegren told reporters.

They were last seen in the water north of the Circle Drive North bridge, near the east bank of the river, he said. Neither have been found so far, and it’s also uncertain whether there was actually a dog in the river, Wegren added.

Two boats were sent from the 33rd Street launch towards the spot where the woman was last seen, the chief said. A diver also searched the area for an hour, as well as two drones from Saskatoon and Corman Park police, he said.

On Friday afternoon, crews were using sonar to look for “anomalies” under water, Wegren said. If they find anything, a diver will be sent to that spot for closer examination, he added.

Saskatoon police are searching on land, he said.

It’s unknown how the woman ended up in the water.

“We are hopeful it’s a rescue,” Wegren said, adding that at this stage, however, crews may be looking at a recovery operation.

Officials always recommend that people stay out of the river, Wegren said.

“Right now, the river flows are a lot less than what they were two weeks prior, but river flows are always dangerous,” he said. “It’s fast-moving water.” 

The area where the woman was reportedly seen is downstream from the weir, where 32-year-old Adan Vargas Salvador went missing in June. He was riding a Jet Ski and was seen in distress upstream of the weir, before going over it.

Remains that were tentatively identified as Salvador’s were recovered downstream two weeks later.