Winnipeg woman saves child, father in ‘courageous’ river rescue

A Winnipeg woman who was hailed as a hero by police for rescuing a father and his young child from the Red River says she does not feel like a hero. Jayclyn Morrissette, 32, was walking with her neighbor in St. John's Park on August 24 when they spotted a distressed girl in the river. Morrissette and her neighbor searched for the child's parents, who they found at a nearby playground.

The father, unable to swim, jumped into the river first and began to sink. Morrissette, who had no specialized rescue training, dived in and rescued the father before going back in to save the lifeless child. She performed CPR on the child as she swam back to shore. Morrissette said the rescue left her with physical and emotional trauma, including nightmares and pain in her neck and shoulders.

The Winnipeg Police Service credited Morrissette's "courageous and selfless actions" with saving both the father and the child. The child was stabilized and expected to make a full recovery. The police child abuse unit determined that the child had entered the water, and her father went in to save her. Police emphasized the dangers of swimming in the Red River due to its currents and undertows.

The Lifesaving Society of Manitoba urged the public to be aware of water safety and wear life jackets.