Water rescue teams safely rescued a kayaker who fell out of their boat and was unable to get back to shore on the Ottawa River on Wednesday. Ottawa Fire Services Public Information Officer Nick DeFazio says firefighters received a 911 call reporting that a kayaker had fallen into the water near Petrie Island Beach at about 2:30 p.m. Rescue teams at the scene found one person holding onto their friend’s kayak in the water about a kilometre away from shore. Both individuals were not wearing a personal flotation device (PFD), Defazio said. Defazio says the two kayakers unintentionally drifted away from the beach and did not realize how far they had floated. “Waves caused their kayaks to take on water, and one kayaker was eventually unable to remain in their kayak and became stranded in the strong current of the Ottawa River,” DeFazio said. Crews launched a rescue boat and were able to pull the individual from the water and get back on the beach about 25 minutes after the initial 911 call. The other kayaker was able to paddle back to shore on his own. Ottawa paramedics confirm no one was injured. DeFazio says the incident is a reminder of how quickly conditions can change on the water and the importance of lifejackets or PFDs. “Although our water rescue teams are highly trained, strategically located and equipped to respond quickly, every second matters during a water emergency,” he said. “Always wear a properly fitted PFD, remain aware of your surroundings, and regularly check your distance from shore. Strong currents, wind, and waves can quickly turn a routine outing into a life-threatening emergency.”
