Saskatoon pair charged after river rescue

Police have charged two people who had to be rescued from the South Saskatchewan River on Saturday.

A man, 22, and a woman, 21, were swept away by the exceptionally fast current after they decided to go wading just after 4 p.m. CT near the River Landing Park, Saskatoon police said in a news release.

Police officers on bicycle and on foot arrived within minutes of receiving a distress call and located the pair near the Broadway Bridge while firefighters launched their rescue vessel.

The man managed to swim to shore between the Broadway and University bridges, police said, while the shore team directed the boat to meet up with woman, who was plucked from the river near the University Bridge and ferried to the Broadway boat launch.

Both were checked by ambulance personnel and did not suffer any injuries, though both were exhausted from fighting the strong current in the river.

Both were charged under a Saskatoon bylaw that prohibits swimming in the river. The female was also charged with breaching court conditions. Both were under the influence of alcohol, police said.