COURTENAY - A woman and baby were rushed to hospital in critical condition after being pulled from the chilly waters of the Puntledge River in the Comox Valley.
A massive rescue effort was launched Friday afternoon after someone saw them in the water and called for help.
Search and rescue crews found the baby near the shoreline by a campsite. Emergency crews were seen performing CPR and then putting the child into an ambulance.
Rescuers spotted the woman, but the swift current carried her downstream and they lost sight of her. More than an hour later she was found and rushed to hospital.
BC Ambulance says the woman and baby were both transported in critical condition.
The initial call came in around 2:30 Friday afternoon, sparking a massive response from search and rescue on land, on the water, and in the air.
Witnesses tell CTV News they saw a man jump into the river to try to save the woman and child.
RCMP are investigating.
