District of North Vancouver Fire and Rescue crews are preparing to perform a rope rescue at the Capilano River this afternoon after two people were swept into the fast-moving water.
Firefighters received emergency calls after witnesses saw two people – a man and a woman – get washed into the river at a point above Highway 1.
Assistant fire chief Walter Warner said witnesses saw the couple being swept downstream.
Since then, the pair have managed to make it to safety on a small island in the middle of the river and are no longer in danger, said Warner.
“Our officers and crews have arrived on scene right now and have a visual on them, stating that they are safe on one of the small islands,” said Warner. “So our crews are attempting their rescue right now to remove them out of the water.”
#NorthVan Firefighters are en route to a water rescue reported to be under the Capilano Suspension Bridge. @GlobalBC @CTVVancouver @cbcnewsbc @NorthShoreNews pic.twitter.com/oW4PpuP4lL
— DistNorthVanFF's (@DNorthVanFire) October 1, 2020
Warner said there’s no indication so far about how the pair were washed into the river – whether they were fishing or walking near the banks of the Capilano. Warner said it’s also not known yet where the couple fell into the water or how long they were in the river.
The Capilano is currently running high and stream flow advisories were recently issued.
Warner said a rescue team is preparing to go out to the island and bring the pair to safety using ropes.
