First responders are praising a bystander for their quick thinking after the Good Samaritan helped rescue a girl who fell into the water at the New Westminster Quay. Crews were called to the Quayside waterfront around 6:15 p.m. Wednesday after reports came in that a “female youth” had entered the Fraser River and was in distress and struggling to stay above water, according to the New Westminster Police Department. “While officers were responding, an alert bystander took immediate action to assist. Using nylon tree staking straps found nearby, the individual created an improvised rope long enough to reach the youth in the water,” the department wrote in a statement Friday. “The bystander then secured a life ring to the rope, allowing the youth to hold onto it and remain afloat until police arrived.” The Q to Q Ferry crew also diverted to pull the girl from the water and bring her on board. Police say they’re investigating how the youth ended up in the river, but do not believe the incident to be criminal. “This rescue is an excellent example of community members and first responders working together under challenging circumstances,” said Sgt. Andrew Leaver, in the statement. “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.”
