Marine Unit Locates And Rescues Canoeist

(PEMBROKE, ON) – On the afternoon of Wednesday July 14th the Upper Ottawa Valley Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) Marine Unit was on patrol on the Ottawa River when they received an emergency call on their VHF marine radio from staff at Petawawa’s Jubilee Lodge. It was reported that a lone male canoeist was overdue. Adding cause for concern was a thunder storm that had just hit the area featuring heavy rain, gusting winds, thunder and lightning.

Police were given the last known direction of travel for the canoeist and less than 10 minutes later the canoeist was located near King Edward Island in the vicinity of the Petawawa Point. Due to heavy rain the canoe was beginning to fill with water. The man, who was uninjured, was brought aboard the police boat and returned safely to shore. The canoe was also towed back to shore by police.

Weather conditions can change rapidly and the OPP would like to remind boaters to always check the weather forecast prior to venturing out onto the waterways.

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