After a week studying swift water rescue techniques around the park with specialists from Smithers, B.C., Jasper National Park public safety officers were able to put their skills to use on June 17.

Three men found themselves combatting frigid waters after their canoe flipped on the Athabasca River at 2:18 p.m. on Saturday. Two of the men were able to swim to shore by Becker’s Chalets, but the third stayed with the boat and floated down the river.

Parks Canada public safety officers Garth Lemke and Max Darrah hopped on jet skis and sped down the river searching for the man in the canoe, and a helicopter was launched to help with the search. Officers were placed at Alpine Village and Old Fort Point in an attempt to spot the man and canoe, and the two people on the shore were told to stay put.

“The canoe floated by Old Fort Point, but we couldn’t tell if the person was with it or beneath it,” Lemke said.

What parks wardens didn’t see was the man letting go of the canoe, and swimming to shore near Jasper House. Just as he reached dry land, Darrah and Lemke arrived on scene. The other two individuals were picked up by passing rafters, and the search concluded at 3 p.m. In all, the man spent almost seven minutes in the freezing waters.

Lemke said the canoeists were ‘inexperienced and unprepared’ for the canoe trip.

“They had no thermal protection, and in those waters, you only have seven minutes until your limbs stop functioning,” Lemke said.

A paramedic was on scene, but the trio declined medical care. One of the men was ‘mildly hypothermic’ Lemke said.

Parks Canada is encouraging everyone to be prepared when heading out on the water and to be aware of the risk of hypothermia. Rivers are swollen right now, Lemke said, and extra caution is needed.