It’s unusual when an RCMP officer has to swim as part of the call of duty, but Salmon Arm RCMP Const. Micah Chan didn’t hesitate to do just that when he spotted a canoeist in distress Friday.
A woman had been paddling near Canoe Beach when high winds caused her boat to capsize. A passerby spotted the woman clinging to the side of the canoe and called 911. Chan, who was at a nearby motor vehicle accident, immediately went to the beach and spotted the woman in the water near her overturned red canoe approximately 100 meters from shore. Staff Sgt. Kevin Keane said Chan took off his police gear, entered the water and swam out. He then assisted the 54-year-old woman and her dog to shore. The woman was not injured.
Following this, “Const. Chan dressed and returned to duty,” said Keane.