Back to SearchDIEPPE, N.B. — The Dieppe Fire Department held a practice rescue exercise as scheduled yesterday on the Petitcodiac River using a life-size 185-lb mannequin.
This mandatory exercise provides firefighters with the opportunity to rescue a person in the water without putting rescue personnel in danger will using a variety of situational scenarios.
One scenario involved placing the mannequin wearing a life jacket in a location known for having very strong undercurrent. The mannequin was pulled underwater by the force of the current and the swell resulting in it not resurfacing which confirms the firefighters’ theory.
There is a strong chance that the mannequin will resurface in the next few days. Residents are asked not to be concerned and call 911. The Dieppe Fire Department will be dispatched to recover the mannequin and most importantly, residents are advised not to attempt to recover the mannequin on their own. The fire departments in Moncton and Riverview have been advised of the situation, as well as the RCMP and 911.
The Dieppe Fire Department would like to remind residents of the inherent dangers of the Petitcodiac River and strongly discourages individuals to venture out onto the river. The current is extremely unpredictable. As firefighters were able to witness with the mannequin, even someone wearing a life jacket in a similar situation may not be able to save themselves.