Saskatoon fire crews recover floating pontoon boat, rescue stranded person on river

A water rescue boat patrols the South Saskatchewan River in Saskatoon on July 1, 2026. (Hayatullah Amanat/CTV News)

Saskatoon firefighters responded to two separate water-related incidents on the South Saskatchewan River over the weekend.

The first incident was reported at 1:16 p.m. on Saturday, when firefighters were called after an unmanned pontoon boat was spotted floating down the river.

Saskatoon Fire Department says the water rescue team launched Boat 2 and brought the rogue pontoon boat to shore.

No occupants were found on the boat, and its owner later recovered it. The fire department says there were no injuries to civilians or firefighters.

At around 1:28 a.m. on Sunday, firefighters were called to rescue a person stranded on Yorath Island.

Crews launched a rescue boat from the Broadway boat launch and set up lighting along the riverbank to assist with the search.

According to the fire department, the stranded person was located with assistance from an RCMP drone and transported to shore for medical attention.

No injuries to civilians or firefighters were reported, and the scene was turned over to RCMP for further investigation.

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The incidents came as the city issued another public warning Sunday about hazardous conditions on the South Saskatchewan River.

The city says increased river flow had damaged and dislodged safety buoys between the University Bridge and the weir.

The city says the buoys are no longer in place, and efforts are underway to reinstall them.

“The public is strongly warned against all recreational activities on the river, including boating, paddling, swimming, floating, fishing from the shoreline and other water-based activities,” the city said.

Residents are also being urged to stay away from the river’s edge because of fast-moving water, unstable banks and submerged hazards.

Public boat launches beneath the Broadway Bridge and river access points in the Meewasin Valley remain closed.

The city says anyone who sees a person in distress in the river should call 911 immediately and provide details about the individual’s location and situation.

The city however have not said whether the drifting pontoon boat and the Yorath Island rescue were connected to each other or to the high-water conditions.