By rdnewsNOW staff

Fort McKay First Nation mourns loss

One man dead amid flooding in northern Alberta

Apr 30, 2020 | 9:43 AM

One person has died as a result of flooding in northern Alberta.

Officials with the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo said the death occurred near the Athabasca River near Fort McKay, about 60 kilometres north of Fort McMurray.

The Fort McKay First Nation said in a media release Wednesday afternoon that the victim is a man from their community.

The release says First Nation officials were informed at around 4:30 p.m. Tuesday that two members of the community were in distress near their family trapping grounds, about 50 kilometres north of Fort McKay along the Athabasca River.

RCMP said they responded to a call for help from two men who were stranded on the river at around 1:30 p.m.

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Mounties say the pair was on ATVs on a trail when water levels suddenly rose and they ended up in the Athabasca River, and that they were able to hold onto a submerged log and used a cellphone to call for help.

One of the men was flown to hospital in critical condition and later died. The second man was taken by ambulance to Northern Lights Regional Hospital in Fort McMurray.

Wood Buffalo RCMP, Fort McMurray Search and Rescue, RMWB emergency services and helicopters helped in the rescue.

Fort McKay First Nation officials explained that the situation was critical due to hypothermia from exposure to the cold water.

RCMP said two women, two children and two dogs “were also rescued from a nearby cabin and taken to safety.”

(With file from The Canadian Press, Global News)