Sask. 911 'very effective': minister

The Saskatchewan government is defending the province's 911 system after a woman and her two children were stranded in their car for a week despite phoning for help.

A 19-year-old friend of the woman, Kerry Canepotatoe, died from exposure after walking 60 kilometres in an effort to find assistance.

Public Safety Minister Yogi Huyghebaert said Monday he believes the 911 system is "very effective."

Huyghebaert said the 911 operator who took a call from the stranded travellers on April 8 handled the call properly by transferring it to an RCMP dispatcher.

RCMP are now investigating whether their civilian dispatcher sent a tow truck to help before the call was lost and he moved on to another phone call.

The two women and two children were driving to Loon Lake from Prince Albert when their car got stuck in mud and water in a remote area near Big River.