Alanna Kelly

UPDATE: 3:25 p.m.

Kelowna Fire Department is asking the public to stay away from swift-moving waters as raging creeks are high due to spring runoff.

A couple ran into trouble when their inflatable rafts ran into debris on Mission Creek just after noon, Wednesday.

"The stranded persons stated they were uninjured but unable to get off the island themselves," said Platoon Capt. Tim Light.

A rescue swimmer swam out to the couple, attached a safety rope and used a Zodiac rescue boat to ferry them back to shore.

The Regional District of Central Okanagan encourages the public to stay away from area creeks while flows are high.

"There is the potential for unexpected and unknown hazards with debris in and under the surface and around the creek banks," said spokesman Bruce Smith.

Residents are also encouraged to keep pets away from fast-moving waters.

UPDATE: 2:10 p.m.

Two people stuck on a sandbar in Kelowna's Mission Creek have been safely rescued.

The man and woman were brought across to the creek bank in a fire department inflatable dinghy.

UPDATE: 1:25 p.m.

Firefighters have strung a line across Mission Creek to the sandbar where a young couple are trapped by the raging waters.

An inflatable raft is secured to the line, and one firefighter is now on the sandbar with the couple.

The crew appears to be securing the rigging before bringing the two back across to the creek bank.

The two apparently came down the creek in a dinghy, which is highly inadvisable during high water. No dinghy is visible on the sandbar, however.

The woman is wearing a flotation device, but the man is not.

ORIGINAL: 12:35 p.m.

Emergency crews have been dispatched to South Hollywood Road and Pasadena Road in East Kelowna for a swift water rescue.

Two people, a man and a woman, are reported to be trapped on a sandbar in Mission Creek.

The swift water rescue team is en route as of 12:30 p.m. in an attempt to rescue the pair.

Emergency crews have established contact with the pair, who are described as relatively safe and dry.

Castanet has a reporter headed to the scene and will update with more details.

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