A pair of paddleboarders found themselves in a perilous situation on the Thompson River late Tuesday afternoon.
Kamloops Search and Rescue (KSAR) was tasked out by the RCMP around 4 pm to help the two paddlers who became stranded on a gravel bar in the middle of the fast-flowing river.
According to a KSAR debrief, the two women were unable to reach shore due to a steep cliff.
As 13 members mobilized to respond to the incident, one person from the KSAR Swiftwater Rescue Team got a head start on the operation because he was nearby.
He paddled across the river in his personal kayak to reach the women and stay with them until the entire team was able to reach the scene.
When backup arrived, the team used a KSAR kayak and rope system to successfully ferry both of the stranded paddleboarders to safety.
“Backup plans, including a second kayak and a downstream jet boat, were in place as contingencies,” the KSAR debrief noted.
The KSAR ground team used a rope assist to help the women climb to safety and the situation wrapped up around 6 pm.
Paramedics assessed both women on scene and confirmed they were unharmed during the ordeal.
