By Jill Sperling

Barriere SAR rescue jet skiers who collided with sandbar

Aug 11, 2016 | 5:22 PM

BARRIERE, B.C. — Search and rescue crews mobilized quickly yesterday, Aug 11, to rescue some jet skiers who collided with a sandbar. 

Barriere Search and Rescue vice president Todd English says his team was alerted to the incident on the North Thompson River near Barriere by BC Ambulance.

“We had Air Ambulance on route, Kamloops Search and Rescue was activated to bring water rescue if required, we had RCMP, we had First Responders as well as Barriere Search and Rescue.”

English says it took about an hour to gather necessary equipment and get the patients into the ambulance. 

“There were four jet skiers and my understanding is that there was no severe injuries but they were pretty banged up,” he said. 

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English says it’s important for jet skiers to be aware of obstacles in the water, such as sandbars, and to watch their speed. 

Barriere RCMP say alcohol and speed were not factors in the accident, the jet skiers were simply unfamiliar with their surroundings. 

RCMP also confirmed that only two of the four jet skiers were involved in the incident.