‘Quite a shock’: Firefighters rescue family from floating ice floe on North Saskatchewan River

Officials are reminding people to stay off the ice after a family floated away on an ice floe. CTV News Edmonton's Miriam Valdes-Carletti reports.

A family of five was recently seen floating down the North Saskatchewan River on an ice floe.

The incident, which was caught on a video obtained by CTV News Edmonton, happened shortly before 4:30 p.m. on Sunday.

Mounties say a man and his four children – ages 12, two aged nine, and six – all from Edmonton, were on the floe.

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“This group of five people, an adult and four children, were actually out on the ice in the Edmonton area when it had broken,” Cpl. Troy Savinkoff of the RCMP told CTV News Edmonton on Friday.

“This large chunk of ice had broken free, and they were traveling all the way from Edmonton into the Fort Saskatchewan area, so a pretty significant distance.”

Savinkoff said the family was having a get together on the edge of the ice and had built a small fire when the ice chunk broke free.

The family was rescued by firefighters from an area near West Rivers Edge boat launch in Fort Saskatchewan.

“It was kind of a shock. We understand that sometimes it does seem like it would be fun,” Fort Saskatchewan Fire Chief Todd Martins told CTV News Edmonton.

“However, based on the ice conditions and how fast the river is moving, it was just a shock to see a family with no life jackets floating down the river. I think all of our members were quite in shock.

“I think the fact that they stayed on that ice block for as long as they did was unbelievable.”

Firefighters deployed throw bags, stabilized the ice and brought the five people to shore.

No one was injured and no charges are expected.

“It brings to light the dangers that we have right now. We’ve got warmer temperatures outside. Any body of water right now should be considered a risk,” Savinkoff said.

“The river itself and really, any waterway right now should be avoided.”

With files from CTV News Edmonton’s Matt Woodman and Miriam Valdes-Carletti