11:35 p.m. update
Sault Ste. Marie Fire Services received another call for a water incident at 8:28 p.m. this evening.
Platoon Chief Stan Martynuck said city police called them for assistance getting a man out of the St. Marys River along the boardwalk just west of the Delta Hotel.
The fire department launched their Rescue 1 airboat and responded with fire trucks to the boardwalk where Sault Ste. Marie Police Service and Emergency Services were already on scene.
Martynuck said police had a rope in the water which the man was holding onto but the physicality of the shoreline was making it difficult for him to get out.
Martynuck said firefighters then put a 14 foot roof ladder over the boardwalk railing and into the water and the man was able to climb out with their assistance.
The man was taken to the hospital said Martynuck.
This was the third water-related incident in less than 24 hours for the fire department as well as their second call about a person in the St. Marys River in about 4 hours.
“I know the weather is getting nicer but the water temperature is still 45 degrees,” said Martynuck. “Fast moving bodies of water will make hypothermia set in quicker and there is also the danger of getting swept away by the current. Exercise good judgment.”
Original story: 9 p.m.
A woman was taken to the hospital for observation after a 911 call reported her possibly in distress in the St. Marys River.
At 4:26 p.m. Sault Ste. Marie Fire Services responded to a call reporting that a woman was in the St. Marys River just off the section of the hub trail that goes between Mill Market and The Station Mall, said Platoon Chief Stan Martynuck.
When fire fighters arrived on scene the woman was conscious and two citizens stood by her as she rested on a ledge near the water.
Fire fighters assisted in helping her over the railing to a safer location.
Sault Ste. Marie City Police Service, and Emergency Services arrived shortly after and the woman was taken to the hospital for further observation.
Witnesses at the scene say the woman had decided to go for a swim.
The area that the woman jumped into was shallow but close to deeper water said Martynuck.
The current nearby the location of the incident was visibly powerful.