Latest news with #MikePurtill
CTV News
11-08-2025
- General
- CTV News
Pinawa Fire Service rescues 5 ‘non-swimmers' from float channel
The Pinawa Fire and Rescue Service saved a group of people who were stranded in the community's float channel over the weekend. The fire department responded to the incident around 5 p.m. on Saturday after learning of the five adults in distress. When crews arrived at the scene, they learned the five people—who didn't know how to swim—ventured out onto the flat channel on inner tubes without any life jackets or paddles. According to Fire Chief Mike Purtill, the group quickly ended up in swift waters and realized they were in trouble. Though they managed to get to shore, they were unsure how to navigate the cliffs at the shoreline and couldn't get out of the water, prompting them to call 911. Once at the float channel, the fire service managed to bring the group to safety. No one was physically hurt during the incident, though the group spent about an hour in the water. Following the rescue, Purtill urges those wanting to use the float channel to come prepared with a plan and proper safety equipment or hire one of the businesses that run the float channel operations. 'This could've really went bad quickly,' he said. 'It's not swift water, but it's fast-moving water, and if you're a non-swimmer, it scares you.'
CTV News
11-08-2025
- General
- CTV News
Pinawa Fire Service rescues 5 ‘non-swimmers' from float channel
The Pinawa Fire and Rescue Service saved a group of people who were stranded in the community's float channel over the weekend. The fire department responded to the incident around 5 p.m. on Saturday after learning of the five adults in distress. When crews arrived at the scene, they learned the five people—who didn't know how to swim—ventured out onto the flat channel on inner tubes without any life jackets or paddles. According to Fire Chief Mike Purtill, the group quickly ended up in swift waters and realized they were in trouble. Though they managed to get to shore, they were unsure how to navigate the cliffs at the shoreline and couldn't get out of the water, prompting them to call 911. Once at the float channel, the fire service managed to bring the group to safety. No one was physically hurt during the incident, though the group spent about an hour in the water. Following the rescue, Purtill urges those wanting to use the float channel to come prepared with a plan and proper safety equipment or hire one of the businesses that run the float channel operations. 'This could've really went bad quickly,' he said. 'It's not swift water, but it's fast-moving water, and if you're a non-swimmer, it scares you.'
Global News
11-08-2025
- Climate
- Global News
Pinawa water rescue a reminder to stay safe: first responders
First responders are once again urging Manitobans to use caution around waterways after five people had to be rescued Saturday near Pinawa. Mike Purtill, chief of the Pinawa Fire and Rescue Service, told 680 CJOB that the five adults — none of whom were good swimmers or wearing lifejackets — were on the Pinawa Channel on flotation devices when the current overwhelmed them. 'It's kind of an isolated area, so they had no way out of the water — they were standing in waist-deep water,' Purtill said. '(They) understood that they were in some serious trouble. They called 911 and we dispatched our crews, and we just led them to safety.' Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy Purtill said people should know their swimming skill level before heading out on the water and always wear a lifejacket. The channel, he said, goes from swift to lazy to swift again, and for inexperienced swimmers, it can be a challenge. Story continues below advertisement 'For a seasoned veteran or somebody who's very comfortable in the water, there's no issues, but if you're a non-swimmer, you have yourself a problem. 'Get familiar with the waterway, understand that it is swift water — once you're on the float channel, it goes for about three kilometres, and there are very few areas that you can get off. 'Have your lifejackets … and have paddles.'
Yahoo
10-08-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Pinawa Fire Department rescues 5 from rapid waters at Pinawa Channel
The chief of a rural fire department is asking Manitobans to be prepared before heading out onto waterways, after five people had to be rescued from the Pinawa Channel on Saturday. "All water is dangerous, especially if you're a non-swimmer, and you have to respect it," Pinawa Fire & Rescue Service Chief Mike Purtill said on Sunday. According to Purtill, on Saturday Pinawa Fire & Rescue Service along with RCMP & EMS responded to a report of five adults stranded in the Pinawa Float Channel. He said the five, who were all related and all adults, ventured out onto the channel on tubes and quickly became overwhelmed by the speed of the current. Even more concerning, according to Purtill, was the fact that none of the five who were rescued knew how to swim, or were wearing floatation devices. "They were not prepared at all, no paddles, no life jackets," Purtill said. "And being non-swimmers, they were pretty concerned about their safety." According to Purtill, the group called 911, and fire crews were successfully reached the five stranded floaters, leading them to safety. "They're a family from Winnipeg that were coming to enjoy the day in Pinawa, and they didn't enjoy it so much, because they were stranded in the water which was fairly cool yesterday," he said. "It was cloudy and it was breezy and they were wet, so they were getting pretty cold by the time we got them out." He added he hopes to see fewer people headed out on waterways as unprepared as the five who were rescued Saturday, or it could lead to tragedy or possible fatalities. "People are not planning, or they do not have any respect for the water," he said. "They don't know how fast they can get into trouble and they're just ill-prepared. So if there was a message I wanted to get out, is that 'plan your day, have your life jackets handy.'" So far this year, Manitoba RCMP have issued public releases on seven drownings, including two incidents last weekend. Last Saturday, two men, one from Manitoba and one from Ontario, died after separate drowning incidents at Grand Beach Provincial Park and at Reynolds Ponds.
CBC
10-08-2025
- Climate
- CBC
Pinawa Fire Department rescues 5 from rapid waters at Pinawa Channel
The chief of a rural fire department is asking Manitobans to be prepared before heading out onto waterways, after five people had to be rescued from the Pinawa Channel on Saturday. "All water is dangerous, especially if you're a non-swimmer, and you have to respect it," Pinawa Fire & Rescue Service Chief Mike Purtill said on Sunday. According to Purtill, on Saturday Pinawa Fire & Rescue Service along with RCMP & EMS responded to a report of five adults stranded in the Pinawa Float Channel. He said the five, who were all related and all adults, ventured out onto the channel on tubes and quickly became overwhelmed by the speed of the current. Even more concerning, according to Purtill, was the fact that none of the five who were rescued knew how to swim, or were wearing floatation devices. "They were not prepared at all, no paddles, no life jackets," Purtill said. "And being non-swimmers, they were pretty concerned about their safety." According to Purtill, the group called 911, and fire crews were successfully reached the five stranded floaters, leading them to safety. "They're a family from Winnipeg that were coming to enjoy the day in Pinawa, and they didn't enjoy it so much, because they were stranded in the water which was fairly cool yesterday," he said. "It was cloudy and it was breezy and they were wet, so they were getting pretty cold by the time we got them out." He added he hopes to see fewer people headed out on waterways as unprepared as the five who were rescued Saturday, or it could lead to tragedy or possible fatalities. "People are not planning, or they do not have any respect for the water," he said. "They don't know how fast they can get into trouble and they're just ill-prepared. So if there was a message I wanted to get out, is that 'plan your day, have your life jackets handy.'" So far this year, Manitoba RCMP have issued public releases on seven drownings, including two incidents last weekend. Last Saturday, two men, one from Manitoba and one from Ontario, died after separate drowning incidents at Grand Beach Provincial Park and at Reynolds Ponds.
