Firefighters rescue kayaker using bystander’s canoe near Billings Bridge

Bystander, Mike Stewart, offers his canoe to firefighters to rescue kayaker. (Ottawa Fire Services)

Ottawa Fire Services says crews rescued a man after his kayak flipped over on the Rideau River using a bystander’s canoe in the area of Bank Street and Riverside Drive, north of Billings Bridge Thursday afternoon.

It happened around 2:30 p.m. in the 1300 block of Bank Street.

Paramedics say an elderly man was taken to hospital in serious but stable condition. He is being treated for severe hypothermia.

Police say they received a call reporting a boater in distress.

“Firefighters performed a water rescue while OPS provided support,” police said in an email to CTV News Ottawa.

When crews arrived at the scene, three minutes into the initial call, they confirmed a man was in distress, holding onto their flipped kayak.

“Firefighters were able to make verbal contact with the kayaker who said (he) was extremely cold but the Kayaker was too far to use one of our throw bags with a rope. A nearby resident offered his canoe to our firefighters on the first arriving pump,” public information officer at Ottawa Fire Services, Nick DeFazio, said in a statement.

Two firefighters then put their life jackets on and paddled to the flipped kayaker.

The kayaker was wearing a life jacket at the time the incident happened, firefighters say.

“We want to thank the resident (Mike Stewart) who offered to help, so we could make a quick rescue and get the individual back to shore as fast as possible,” DeFazio added.

ehIn an interview with CTV News Ottawa Friday, Stewart said he was returning from the library when a fire truck arrived at tscene. He notes that when he saw the man in the river holding onto his flipped kayak, he asked the responding firefighters if they needed a canoe.

“I’m lucky enough to live near the river and have a whole fleet. So, I fetched the paddles and together (firefighters and himself) we grabbed the canoe,” Stewart said.

Stewart is glad the kayaker was rescued.

“I really believe anyone would have helped, seeing a need like this and having a solution on hand,” he said.

“The firefighters and first responders all did a great job and should be commended. I’m glad the man was safe and that my canoe had this little adventure.”