Two Fishermen Rescued from Kitimat River in British Columbia

Two fishermen became stranded on an island in the lower Kitimat River on July 3, 2026 after water levels rose unexpectedly. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police requested assistance at 9:40 a.m., and Kitimat Ground Search and Rescue (KGSAR) deployed ten volunteers, including a four‑person rescue boat team. Both men were located and lifted from the island by about 10:40 a.m.

KGSAR warned that the Kitimat River’s conditions can change quickly, with river levels rising with little notice, making islands and gravel bars unsafe. The rescue followed a similar incident on June 26, when a fisherman was caught in a logjam, capsized, and spent a night in the forest, even encountering a mother grizzly bear and her cubs. High water has altered river channels and created logjams, prompting KGSAR to advise anyone floating the river to have local knowledge, advanced river‑reading skills, and experience. The June 26 fisherman’s use of a properly fitted personal flotation device was noted as a key factor in his safe recovery.