A Toronto-area couple was dramatically rescued by helicopter on Sunday (May 6) after they became stranded on a small island south in Crowe River south of Cordova Lake, about 18 kilometres north of Havelock.
The man and woman, both in their 30s, had set out on a canoe trip on Crowe River on Saturday evening at 6 p.m. Their canoe was swamped by turbulent water and they swam to a nearby island. While the couple had life jackets in their canoe, they were not wearing them.
On Sunday morning, family members noticed they had not returned and later found their canoe and life jackets near Scott’s Dam (a series of stepped waterfalls) in Crowe River off of Fire Route 18.
A person who noticed the couple on the island contacted emergency services. Peterborough County Ontario Provincial Police (OPP), paramedics, and local fire services arrived at the scene.
VIDEO: 424 Squadron Transport and Rescue – Cordova Lake May 6, 2018
However, due to the fast-moving water surrounding the island, they were unable to rescue the couple and called in 424 Transport and Rescue Squadron from CFB Trenton, who flew to the area in a CH-146 Griffon helicopter.
Despite strong and gusty winds in a heavily forested area, a member of the search and rescue crew descended around 200 feet (61 metres) twice to lift the man and woman to safety — documenting the rescue in the video above.
The helicopter then flew the rescued couple to a nearby field where emergency services were waiting.
While paramedics took the couple to hospital for assessment as a precaution, they were in good condition, having been able to make a shelter and build a fire on the island where they had spent the night.
Peterborough County OPP are reminding boaters to always wear their life jackets when out on the water and also to inform family or friends of their destination and expected return time.
The original version of this story has been updated to show the location of the rescue operation and to clarify the rescue happened in Crowe River.
