Snowmobiler rescued from icy Rideau River
Posted Jan 13, 2026 10:32:37 AM.
Last Updated Jan 13, 2026 10:45:04 AM.
A person was rescued by emergency responders after their snowmobile went through the ice in the Rideau River.
Ottawa fire, paramedics, police, Ontario Provincial Police (OPP), Leeds Grenville Fire and paramedics were called to Burritts Rapids on Monday around 6:00 p.m. OPP first responded followed by other rescuers.
Firefighters said they were called by the person’s partner, who reported that the person could not get out of the river.
The individual was holding onto the side of the snowmobile and “struggling to remain out of the water.”
Ottawa fire’s ice/water rescue teams were dispatched, and the communications division pinpointed the exact location using GPS coordinates.
“Dispatchers advised that the individual was wearing a flotation suit but was experiencing numbness in their legs due to the freezing water,” the release reads.
When crews arrived on scene, they found the person about 30 feet from shore, holding onto an ice shelf. A throw bag was given, but they did not have the strength to pull themselves out of the water.
The person used the rope around their hand and waited until firefighters could reach them.
Teams entered the water and were able to grab the person on the ice. More crews were deployed, including a rescue sled to help the person escape the river.
By 6:16 p.m., the person was on shore and transferred to paramedics. They were treated for hypothermia and released, OPP detailed.
“Let this be a reminder that changing winter weather can cause unpredictable conditions both on and off the water. Travelling on ice is risky and should be avoided,” police said.
