Northumberland OPP – Being Prepared Helped Two People Who Were Rescued From Rice Lake

Pete Fisher
3 years ago
• Categories: Editor Choice, Local, Police Blotter

Emergency services are crediting floatation devices for helping prevent a tragedy on Rice Lake on Monday June 7, 2021.

At approximately 2:25 p.m. emergency services were dispatched to the area west of Gores Landing on Rice Lake for a water rescue.

An adult man and four-year-old were in the water when the boat they were in drifted away from them.

A woman and three other children including an infant were in the boat when it became disabled and drifted away from the two people in the water.

Emergency assistance was dispatched including Northumberland OPP, Hamilton Township Fire Department and Northumberland County Paramedics.

Northumberland OPP were the first on scene and noticed that two people in the water with the boat drifting further away.

OPP said because of the current and wind the boat was approximately 600 metres from the pair in the water.

With the help of a nearby boating business they were able to retrieve the two people who were in the water and bring them back to the boat.

It was a minor repair to the boat and they were on their way.

Northumberland OPP said wearing a personal floatation device definitely helped both people survive.

“A simple thing like swimming off a boat could have ended in tragedy,” said Northumberland OPP Constable Jeff Laporte.

“We commend all involved for not panicking, wearing the proper PFD’s and being prepared for an emergency.”