The Gatineau, Que., fire department says firefighters rescued two people who were canoeing on the Ottawa River Wednesday night as a storm moved through. The mother of one of the canoeists called at around 10:25 p.m. to report she had not heard from her son and his friend and was concerned about them. A thunderstorm hit the region Wednesday night, with heavy wind and rain. Gatineau firefighters found that the two people had been separated because of the weather. Both were on the verge of hypothermia, a news release said. The individuals were safely brought to shore and were not injured, the fire service said. The Gatineau Fire Service reminds all boaters that it is a legal requirement to wear a personal floatation device while aboard a pleasure craft.
