Female Rescued In High-Angle Operation at Middle Cove Beach

On Sunday, September 21, just before 6:30 p.m., the St. John’s Regional Fire Department (SJRFD) was dispatched to Middle Cove Beach following reports of a female in distress near the water.

While this type of incident is typically handled by the Canadian Coast Guard, they were unavailable at the time, prompting SJRFD’s water rescue team to respond. Upon arrival, crews located a female who had swum out to a rock formation and was unable to return to shore.

SJRFD’s rescue team, trained and equipped for both water and high-angle rescues, began preparing for the operation. In the meantime, an RNC officer on scene removed his own pants and shirt to provide to the female in an effort to protect her from hypothermia.

Firefighters successfully carried out a high-angle rescue to bring the female to safety. Once on shore, she was assessed by paramedics and transported to hospital for treatment of mild hypothermia.

During the operation, the RNC temporarily closed Middle Cove Beach to ensure public safety.