(Paul Devlin (glasses) rescuing a person on Lake Ontario on July 1)
A Cobourg man is being credited with saving the life of a paddle boarder after a sudden windstorm swept the individual into the waters of Lake Ontario on Canada Day.
It has been a busy few days for emergency services along the Lake Ontario shoreline in the Cobourg area.
On July 1, at approximately 5:30 p.m., Paul Devlin was barbecuing in his backyard overlooking Lake Ontario, just east of Victoria Beach, when he noticed a dangerous situation unfolding offshore.
Two paddle boards with two people on each board were within the designated swimming area when a fast-moving storm arrived.
“You could see it coming, but the winds were unexpected,” said Devlin.
“The one group was having problems on their paddle boards. One paddle board flipped and they went into the water. The wind blew them off the board, then it flipped the board. The board was up in the air, then it was gone.”
Within minutes, the strong winds had pushed both groups beyond the swimming boundaries and farther out into Lake Ontario.
Neither paddle boarder was wearing a life jacket, and the board was not tethered, allowing it to quickly drift away.
One of the paddle boarders managed to reach shore, but the other was panicking, struggling to stay afloat as the wind continued carrying him farther from land.
Devlin and his partner, Jan Spragge, immediately called 9-1-1 after realizing no one on the beach appeared to be attempting a rescue. He later learned neighbours had also contacted emergency services.
Although Devlin describes himself as “not a good swimmer,” he said he couldn’t stand by and watch someone drown.
“Luckily we had all our fishing gear in the garage. Jan had two life jackets and throwable buoys, so I grabbed two of those.”
After putting on a life jacket himself, Devlin dog-paddled out toward the struggling man.
“By the time I got to him, he couldn’t move his arms anymore.”
The exhausted paddle boarder grabbed the flotation equipment Devlin brought, and with Devlin’s assistance the pair made it safely back to shore.
Looking back on the rescue, Devlin believes the outcome would have been tragic had no one intervened.
“He would have gone under.”
He said many of the people on the beach, including members of the man’s own group, appeared to freeze.
“None of them were going in the water.”
Devlin later learned the man was visiting from the Toronto area.
He believes many visitors underestimate how quickly conditions on Lake Ontario can change.
“They see everybody out having fun, and they don’t realize how fast it drops. They don’t realize how cold it gets.”
Victoria Beach has four lifeguard stations, but they have been unstaffed for the past several years.
Devlin isn’t certain whether lifeguards would have changed the outcome because of where the incident occurred, but he believes additional water safety measures are needed.
“A lifeguard can obviously swim better than I can, so honestly it would be hard to tell,” he said. “We should have something.”
He also believes anyone using paddle boards, kayaks or other watercraft should wear a life jacket, understand the equipment they’re using and know what to do if they end up in the water.
“Forty bucks they saved not wearing one, but it could have cost him his life.”
“That would have made the biggest difference.”
When Devlin and the rescued paddle boarder returned safely to the beach, bystanders thanked him for his actions.
For Devlin, however, there was never any question about what needed to be done.
“Somebody needs help, you’ve got to help.”
The two people who were on the other paddleboard, made it safely back to shore around the D’Arcy Street area.
The following day emergency services were called to the area of Lake Ontario off of Coverdale Avenue and Lakeshore Road in Cobourg.
Cobourg Police, Northumberland OPP, Cobourg Fire Department and the Canadian Coast Guard along with a Hercules from CFB Trenton was on a training exercise nearby and also participated in the call at approximately 8:20 p.m.
Today’s Northumberland contacted Cobourg Fire Department for comment, but there was no response. Cobourg Police has not issued any information regarding the incident.
Senior Public Affairs Officer for Joint Rescue Coordination Centre (JRCC) Trenton, Major Mathew Strong, who is based in Winnipeg, MB, confirmed the JRCC received a call on July 2, 2026 at approximately 8:30 p.m. for a sinking kayak east of Cobourg.
A CC-130 Hercules was dispatched and confirmed the location of the kayak, then dropped a smoke flare to help pinpoint the location. The JRCC also tasked Search and Rescue (SAR) Station Cobourg to the area and local fire attended the scene shoreside.
When the Coast Guard arrived at the scene, the two individuals had made it back to shore.
The kayak ended up sinking.
The two individuals were not injured and declined medical assistance.
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
