Bystanders rescue cyclist who fell into Rideau Canal

A jogger runs along the Rideau Canal as summer temperatures hit Ottawa on Wednesday, June 8, 2011. A humidex warning has been issued for the nation's capital. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

Ottawa Paramedics are crediting two bystanders for saving a cyclist’s life after he fell into the Rideau Canal Tuesday morning.

Paramedics say around 10:30 a.m., the 63-year-old male cyclist lost control of his bicycle and fell into the canal from the Colonel By Drive pathway, south of Dow’s Lake.

The cyclist began sinking. He had his feet clipped in to his bicycle, and was unable to dislodge them from the bike shoe pedal clips.

Another cyclist and jogger witnessed the incident and jumped into the water to rescue the man who had fallen in.

One of the rescuers managed to free the man from his bicycle. The two bystanders then managed to pull the victim out of the water.

The 63-year-old cyclist is in hospital in stable condition.