A Toronto man owes his life to members of the Canadian Coast Guard after he was rescued from Lake Ontario on Saturday, June 6, 2020.
At approximately 12:30 p.m. Colborne Fire Department along with Brighton Fire Department were dispatched to the area of Victoria Beach Road after a person in a styrofoam boat drifted from shore wearing no life jacket and only having a broken paddle. There was also no safety items on the boat including bailing bucket or whistle.
At approximately the same time members of the Canadian Coast Guard crew Cape Mercy were also assigned to the rescue.
When the crew from Cape Mercy spotted the vessel it was approximately one mile south of Colborne, partially submerged with the 34-year-old Toronto man on board with no life jackets and a broken oar.
Shortly before arriving on scene the small boat capsized dumping the man into Lake Ontario.
The Coast Guard crew pulled the man from the water and placed him into their vessel taking him to the Wicklow Boat launch.
Northumberland County Paramedics assessed the man when he came to shore, but he refused treatement.
The water temperature where the man was pulled from the Lake was 9 degrees Celcius/48.2 Faahrenheit.
Northumberland OPP arrived on scene and examined the vessel stating the man was very lucky members of the Canadian Coast Guard arrived on scene when they did.
The Toronto man was given a number of tickets for violations including no life jacket, totalling approximately $500.
Author: Pete Fisher
Has been a photojournalist for over 30-years and have been honoured to win numerous awards for photography and writing over the years. Best selling author for the book Highway of Heroes - True Patriot Love
