Photo: Contributed

New Westminster police rescued a man from the Fraser River after his canoe overturned.

The drama unfolded Saturday afternoon, when police received multiple 911 calls reporting a male screaming for help and clinging to the side of a capsized canoe near the Queensborough Bridge.

The NWPD’s Marine Unit deployed its boat while witnesses did their best to maintain a visual on the canoe as it was swept down river by the powerful current.

Two officers were on scene within minutes, located the canoe with the paddler still clinging to it, and pulled him to safety. They also retrieved the canoe, pulling it onto the deck of the police boat.

The male, a 54-year-old resident of New Westminster, was cold and shaken by the experience, but uninjured after being in the water for about five minutes.

“The quick deployment ... and the (constables') actions ... very likely saved this individual's life," said Chief Const. Dave Jones. "Policing the City of New Westminster does not stop at the shoreline. The NWPD Marine Unit allows us to continue our high level of service delivery to those who utilize the waterways bordering New Westminster.”