Image: Mike Vanden Bosch / Pattison Media / First responders were called out after a victim suffered some kind of medical episode Monday afternoon in the Vedder River. The victim may have been fishing in the Vedder River at the time when the incident occurred. Chilliwack Search and Rescue was dispatched alongside Chilliwack Fire Department and BC Ambulance Service.

By Mike Vanden Bosch

Medical rescue in Vedder River

Updated: Patient apparently did not survive medical episode in Vedder River

Oct 16, 2023 | 4:35 PM

CHILLIWACK — Chilliwack Search and Rescue was activated Monday afternoon (Oct. 16) after an individual suffered some kind of medical episode in the Vedder River about 125 metres west of the Vedder Bridge.

Chilliwack Search and Rescue volunteers joined multiple firefighters from the Chilliwack Fire Department and paramedics from BC Ambulance Service Monday afternoon in the rescue effort.

In an update from BC Emergency Health Services Monday evening, the individual who suffered some kind of medical episode did not apparently survive.

“BC Emergency Health Services received a call at 2:30 p.m. today, October 16, regarding a medical event at the Vedder River in Chilliwack. Two ambulances and a paramedics supervisor responded to the scene. No patients were transported to the hospital.”

Firefighters were originally dispatched for the report of a medical incident, possibly a cardiac arrest, near the dog park at Vedder River. Chilliwack Fire originally responded to the south side of the river, as did one BC ambulance, before relocating to the north side of the Vedder River close to Vedder Park.

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Image: Mike Vanden Bosch / Pattison Media / First responders converged on an island in the middle of the Vedder River Monday (Oct. 16) afternoon for a rescue effort.

First responders reached an island in the middle of the somewhat shallow river, surrounded by a multitude of fishermen in both directions, to administer cardiopulmonary resuscitation on a single individual. First responders could be seen administering CPR and/or chest compressions for at least 15 minutes from roughly 3 p.m. to 3:15 p.m.

Image: Mike Vanden Bosch / Pattison Media

A raft was deployed by Chilliwack Search and Rescue on the south side of the shore just below the Vedder Bridge, before rescue personnel headed west in the Vedder River. Fishermen were required to move out of the way in order for the yellow rescue boat to reach the victim.

by Mike Vanden Bosch

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Updated: Patient apparently did not survive medical episode in Vedder River

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