A group of high school students learned a lesson in preparedness this week when they helped rescue a pair of stranded boaters on the South McQuesten River.

The middle-aged Yukon couple were travelling the river in a Zodiac, the RCMP reported today, when their outboard motor died and the boat began taking on water.

Their situation became worse when they were caught on a mat of fallen trees across the river.

"They were unable to get their boat over the debris because of the weight of the water,” said RCMP spokesman Sgt. Don Rogers.

The pair spent Monday night cold and wet without a tent.

They would have been in serious trouble were it not for two better-prepared groups who came along Tuesday.

"A hunting party who passed by gave them a paddle and told them to wait for the party that was coming up behind,” Rogers said.

"They weren't prepared to be on an overnight trip; let's put it that way. They had some gear like sleeping bags, but they didn't have shelter.”

By Tuesday afternoon, the school group had come upon the stricken couple, and began the business of getting them help. The students were accompanied by local river tour guide Bob Daffe and Jenny Darling, the school's outdoor education instructor.

"Mr. Daffe's first action was to locate a suitable area to camp for the night in order to allow authorities to enter the area and recover the couple as efficiently as possible,” Rogers said.

"He did this by selecting a camp on the river bank near an old abandoned Bailey bridge just northeast of the confluence of the North and South McQuesten Rivers,” Rogers said.

"Mr. Daffe, Ms. Darling and their group of students were able to offer assistance to the couple in moving their stricken boat down the river and over the fallen trees, to the abandoned bridge site.

"Mr. Daffe was able to contact assistance via a satellite phone, and to describe his exact location to authorities. The group also offered their camp to the couple and assist them in warming up and drying off.”

Mayo police received the call at around 7 p.m. Tuesday and began preparing a rescue plan.

"Not being familiar with the location, or how they might get into it, the RCMP solicited assistance from local Mayo resident, Mr. Bruce MacGregor, who advised that he was aware of a trail that may lead to the abandoned bridge in question,” Rogers reported.

"Due to the low level of water in the river this year and the presence of fallen trees across it, the decision was made, on Mr. MacGregor's advice, not to use one of the larger RCMP river boats, but to attempt to drive into the location using trucks, a quad and a canoe.

"This method would give the rescue party the flexibility to try and get into (and out of), the location via land, in the quickest way possible.

"By using trucks, an ATV and a canoe, the rescue party covered the possibilities of the types of terrain that might be encountered as well as the possible need to go onto the river in order to locate the group.

"As it turned out, Mr. Daffe's foresight in selecting his camp location, and Mr. MacGregor's local knowledge to find that location from land, was invaluable to the rescue/recovery operation.

"Mr. MacGregor was able to locate the trails which led directly to the group's location at an old abandoned Bailey bridge on the South McQuesten River.

"The quad was utilized, as Mr. MacGregor knew of the boggy ground conditions just along the river in that area, but the canoe was not needed.

"From there, it was a simple matter of loading up the stricken couple as well as their gear and hauling them out.”

Rogers extended thanks to the Vanier students and Daffe, noting they likely saved the couple from a dire fate.

"A few more nights of exposure would have altered this couple's health considerably, as temperatures were falling well below freezing and precipitation was expected (today),” he said.

"The RCMP would like to thank Mr. MacGregor for sharing his local knowledge and offering his assistance, and equipment, in order to get our members to the rescue location as efficiently as possible.

"In typical Yukon fashion, all those involved did not just show a willingness to help, but were actually glad to do so.”

Reached this morning by the Star, MacGregor declined to comment on his role in the drama.

The couple's names were not released.