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'Over 24 years, I’ve been in the river twice': officer who saved teen from Red River

By: Aldo Santin

Posted: 06/20/2012 12:23 PM | Comments: 0 | Last Modified: 06/20/2012 5:09 PM | Updates

Const. Kevin Gibson rescued a 15-year-old boy from the Red River Sunday afternoon, and had to be rescued himself after he became stuck in the river mud. (BORIS MINKEVICH / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS) Photo Store

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A Winnipeg police officer who rescued a 15-year-old boy from the Red River Sunday afternoon had to be rescued himself after he became stuck in the river mud.

Const. Kevin Gibson had gone to the Point Douglas side of the Louise Bridge just after 1 p.m. Sunday, responding to a call of a man struggling in the river.

Gibson said the man who fit the description was actually safe and fishing on shore from the nearby boat launch -- but as he surveyed the area, he saw a person in the river about 30 yards upstream.

"I started running in that direction and sure enough I see a head in the water and an arm grasping out," Gibson, 44, who was the first officer on the scene that day, said.

"He went under the water twice... I jumped in the river."

Gibson said the boy was about 8 metres from shore. He grabbed him and towed him back towards shore until he could stand up.

That’s when the river bottom got hold of Gibson.

"I carried him out of the river — he was stiff as a board, shivering and couldn’t talk and crying.

"I was going to carry him out in my arms but as I started walking on the river bottom I just sunk past my knees and up to my waist.

"I’m stuck, in water up to my neck and holding him up out of the water."

Gibson said he was afraid of losing his balance and falling under himself if he tried to move, so he decided to stay put until help arrived.

"It wasn’t worth the risk. I just waited, holding him like that until someone could take him from me."

Gibson’s superior, Sgt. Ed Chalmers, arrived next on the scene, waded out to help Gibson but he too sank into the soft river bottom up to his knees.

"(Chalmers) stayed there, an arm’s length away, and was there in case I needed help to hold up the boy."

Gibson said the river must have been cold but he didn't notice it.

"That was the last thing on my mind," he said. "The adrenaline is going, I’m in work mode, I had my full uniform on and a bulletproof vest. I never noticed it."

A Winnipeg Fire rescue boat arrived on the scene and its crew in wet suits jumped into the water, placed the boy onto a stretcher board and lifted him up into the boat and took him to shore and paramedics took him

Gibson watched, still stuck up to his waist in the river bottom.

"They made a human chain with firemen and yanked me out of the river."

Gibson said other officers accompanied the boy to hospital and he never did learn how the boy found himself in the river.

Gibson just celebrated his 24th anniversary as a member of the Winnipeg Police Service.

He had to jump into the Red once before, in the spring of 1997 when car plunged in near the Disraeli and witnesses didn’t see anyone climb out.

Back then, he tied a rope around his waist and went in, but there was no one inside the car. Turns out the car was stolen and the thieves had locked the accelerator pedal down and launched it, empty, down the bank and into the river.

"I felt kind of embarrassed... I risked my life to go into an empty car," he said. "Over 24 years, I’ve been in the river twice."

aldo.santin@freepress.mb.ca

History

Updated on Wednesday, June 20, 2012 at 1:20 PM CDT: The rescue took place on the Red River.

5:09 PM: Updated with officer's story.

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