Boater jumped ship after severe rain sinks vessel on Ottawa River
Posted Jul 20, 2026 03:51:21 PM.
Last Updated Jul 20, 2026 03:54:46 PM.
A boater made it to the shores of the Ottawa River unscathed after the vessel they were in rapidly filled with rainwater.
The incident happened on Saturday around 4:46 p.m., when the city experienced torrential rain as thunderstorms rolled through the region. A 911 call reported a 14-foot aluminum boat near Morin Road and Boise Lane. The caller said they saw the boat filling with water during the storm and witnessed a person jump into the water.
Firefighters, who specialize in water rescues, were sent to the east end. Crews launched a rescue boat upriver from the incident and arrived in the area where they saw the capsized vessel.
The occupant made it the 100 metres to shore from the boat and was checked out by paramedics.
The team towed the boat to shore, turned it upright and used a pump to remove the water before giving it back to the owner.
“This incident provides a strong reminder during National Drowning Prevention Week that weather conditions can change quickly on the water,” a press release reads.
A statistic shared by the Lifesaving Society notes that when boating alone, drowning fatalities happen in 30 per cent of incidents.
