The stretch of the Nechako River where today’s rescue took place – photo courtesy RCMP

Prince George, B.C. – A female is lucky to be alive after being rescued from the Nechako River earlier today.

Prince George RCMP Cpl. Craig Douglass says police received a report from a concerned citizen that a female had gone into the Nechako River near the Cameron Street Bridge at around 10:30 a.m.

He says two off duty 9-1-1 operators that were walking along the Heritage River Trail at the time called in and provided updates as to where the female was.

A few minutes later, Douglass says police and other emergency personnel began arriving in the area to set up at various points along the river.

Shortly after that he says the female was seen floating around 700 metres from the bridge.

“Cst. Cole Ebeling, a Prince George general duty officer, ran into the fast-moving water and began making his way towards the female,” says Douglass.

“While this was happening, an off-duty officer sent his dog into the water to grab the female (his personal dog, not a police dog). The dog grabbed the female and began pulling her back towards Cst. Ebeling. Cst. Ebeling then grabbed a hold of the female and pulled her back to shore.”

Douglass say the female was taken to hospital and is expected to survive.

“Cst. Ebeling’s actions and bravery exemplify the efforts and sacrifices our police officers and employees make each and every day here in Prince George,” says Supt. Warren Brown, the officer in charge of the Prince George RCMP.

“Because of Cst. Ebeling’s commitment to public safety, he sacrificed his own safety to save the life of a person who would have drowned. I simply cannot ask more of an effort than that.”