Crews make back-to-back water rescues in the Ottawa River
Posted Sep 3, 2026 11:55:19 AM.
Two water rescue teams were deployed one after the other for two people who were caught in the Ottawa River on Wednesday evening.
Around 6:05 p.m., crews got a call from Ottawa police who said that a person wearing a black wetsuit was calling for help while parasailing near the 3100 block of Carling Avenue.
When firefighters arrived, they found the person in distress. A team launched a rescue boat and was able to reach the parasail bringing it and the resident aboard. The person was not injured.
Just minutes after, another rescue team was called by Ottawa police again, who said there was a swimmer in need of help.
The other team went to the 100 block of Greenview Avenue, launching a second boat and finding the swimmer about six metres from shore.
Crews were able to reach the person and brought them onto their boat before returning to the shore.
“These two incidents demonstrate how quickly conditions on the Ottawa River can become dangerous and the importance of always wearing a properly fitted personal flotation device,” firefighters noted.
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