UPDATE: 24 hours after a public warning about a hazardous tree in the Puntledge River was issued, several agencies combined forces to remove the tree.
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Comox Valley Ground Search and Rescue (CVGSAR) has launched a B次元官网网址減ublic safety advisoryB次元官网网址� regarding the hazards of tubing, after a large tree fell into the Puntledge River, in Courtenay.
B次元官网网址淭he tree is almost river-wide, so right across the river,B次元官网网址� said Mike Bryan, CVGSAR swift water rescue co-ordinator. B次元官网网址淭here is a way to walk around the right-hand side, but the main flow of the river goes through on the left. So if you arenB次元官网网址檛 paying attention and you are just tubing along in the current, you will be taken right into this large tree.B次元官网网址�
The tree is located a few hundred metres downstream from the river shore area at the lower (east) end of Puntledge Park rock beach.
From a timing perspective, Bryan said the tree is a little more than two minutes downstream from the rock and reed island that can be seen just beyond the east end of Puntledge Park.
B次元官网网址淭here is water pouring over top, but unfortunately there is also water pouring underneath and it sounds like B次元官网网址� several people have already gone underneath it and barely escaped. So we are very concerned about it.
B次元官网网址淔rom [upstream] you can see the branches on the one end, but what you arenB次元官网网址檛 realizing is that water is pouring over a huge log on the left side.B次元官网网址�
Launching such a public advisory campaign is not normal practice for CVGSAR, but Bryan said the circumstances surrounding this particular hazard warrants the extra attention.
B次元官网网址淎nytime there is a river-wide hazard like this, we are not always going to be aware of it, and we are not always going to be able to put out public notices, but this one, because of its location, and because of the way it is acting, we are very concerned that someone does get pinned,B次元官网网址� he said.
The CVGSAR Facebook post about the hazard was shared more than 800 times within the first day.
Many of the comments suggest the removal of the tree.
While Bryan did not dismiss that as a possibility somewhere down the road, the tree is actually a natural hazard - no different than the large rocks, sandbars or islands that make up the river path.
B次元官网网址淧eople need to remember [when travelling the Puntledge] that they are on a natural river. There is literally hundreds of trees between here and the hatchery that could come down,B次元官网网址� he said.
Another word of advice Bryan offered was to consider keeping the beer and coolers at bay while traversing the Puntledge.
B次元官网网址淲e want people to think about being sober. If youB次元官网网址檙e not sober and you are trying to make decisions quickly, or you are trying to rescue your companions, it could turn into a very bad situation,B次元官网网址� he said.
Public flotation devices are also encouraged.
B次元官网网址淎ny time youB次元官网网址檝e got moving water, thereB次元官网网址檚 a lot of force there,B次元官网网址� said Bryan. B次元官网网址淓ven if you are a very strong swimmer, you are not going to be able to push against the force of the water.
B次元官网网址淭his isnB次元官网网址檛 an amusement park. This is a natural river. ThereB次元官网网址檚 no one patrolling it, and no lifeguards on duty.B次元官网网址�
terry.farrell@blackpress.ca
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