A police car with flashing lights is shown in Philadelphia, Monday, Jan. 17, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Matt Rourke
By The Canadian Press

Police commandeer local ferry to rescue youth from river in New Westminster, B.C.

Nov 6, 2026 | 1:58 PM

NEW WESTMINSTER — The rescue of a girl spotted struggling to stay afloat in the Fraser River this week involved an improvised rope and the commandeering of a local ferry.

Police in New Westminster, B.C., say the rescue unfolded Wednesday, when witnesses reported seeing the youth in distress in the water.

They say a bystander created a makeshift rope with straps used to stake trees and attached a life ring, tossing it out for the girl to hold onto.

Officers, meanwhile, commandeered a ferry connecting the waterfront in downtown New Westminster with the Queensborough neighbourhood, working alongside the vessel’s crew to reach the girl and pull her safely out of the water.

Police say she was unhurt, though she was taken to hospital for assessment.

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The circumstances of how she ended up in the water remain under investigation, but police say they don’t believe criminality was involved.

“This rescue is an excellent example of community members and first responders working together under challenging circumstances,” Sgt. Andrew Leaver said in a statement issued Friday.

“The quick-thinking bystander who improvised a rescue line and life ring, the Q to Q Ferry crew who immediately assisted, and the responding officers all played a critical role in bringing this youth to safety.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 6, 2026.

The Canadian Press

by The Canadian Press

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