The Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service is reminding Winnipeg parents to speak to their children about the dangers of river banks, streams, drainage ditches, and retention ponds after a male youth was rescued from the Red River.

Shortly after 6 p.m. on Sunday, emergency crews responded to the Red River between Victoria Crescent and South Drive. A 911 caller reported that a male youth was holding on to a log as the river current carried him downstream.

The WFPS Water Rescue team was deployed, launching their Zodiac boat from St. Vital Park. They caught up with the youth north of Tod Drive, roughly one kilometre from where he was first seen. He was safely taken into the rescue boat and brought to shore at 6:23 p.m. He was transported to hospital in stable condition.

At this time it is not known how the individual came to be in the water or how long he was there.

Last year, WFPS responded to approximately 150 water rescue calls.