On Friday morning, two individuals whose SUV plunged into the Rideau River are safe, thanks to the quick actions of several bystanders who stepped in to help.
According to Ottawa paramedics, emergency services were alerted to the single-vehicle accident at approximately 5:50 a.m. at the intersection of Riverside Drive and Walkley Road, close to Mooney’s Bay.
They reported that the SUV ended up in the water, but both occupants managed to swim back to safety. After being evaluated by paramedics, they were released at the scene.
Around 6 a.m. on Friday, CBC News observed a long silver pole lying on the road and boats marked “Ottawa Fire” operating in the water.
Lesley Tomlinson, who was out for a morning jog near the intersection, recalled hearing the sound of a car braking and skidding.
She recounted to CBC that the SUV slid through the intersection, collided with a light pole, went over the embankment, and crashed into the water.
“I was in shock,” she stated.
The intersection of Riverside Drive and Walkley Road is seen at around 6 a.m. on Friday after the crash. (Gabrielle Huston/CBC)
‘He can’t swim!’
“There was definitely a moment of panic about how to assist these individuals,” Tomlinson recounted.
She noted that two others arrived to help; one woman emerged from a nearby house and called 911, while another, who had been driving behind the SUV, stopped her car and jumped into the water.
Tomlinson observed as the woman aided the driver out of the vehicle and then moved to the passenger side, shouting: “He can’t swim!”
A former lifeguard, Tomlinson entered the water. When she reached the SUV, it was nearly fully submerged, and the passenger was clinging to it.
“I was very assertive, telling him not to touch me or wrap his arms around me, as that would risk both of us drowning,” Tomlinson recalled.
“I instructed him to lie on his back while I supported his head and guided him to safety… Just as we got him into that position, the car completely went under.”
First responders are seen at the scene of the crash Friday. Speaking about the help she provided, Tomlinson said that ‘if you’re not aware of lifeguard procedures, you really can’t help someone who can’t swim.’ (Gabrielle Huston/CBC)
‘You really need basic swimming skills’
Tomlinson stated that she swam with him towards the shore while keeping his head above water.
Afterward, she shared with CBC News that she didn’t fully grasp the remarkable nature of the incident at that moment.
Tomlinson highlighted that the rescue was a collaborative effort, stressing that the woman who first jumped in was “the true hero.”
Later that day, Tomlinson went to work as a teacher and recounted the incident to her students.
“I felt it was crucial to emphasize to them the importance of being able to swim. The driver was not a proficient swimmer but could keep his head above water… the other individual was unable to swim and was unsure of what to do,” she explained.
“The key takeaway from this entire experience is that basic swimming skills are essential because you never know what circumstances you might face.”
On Saturday, police informed CBC that the SUV had been retrieved from the Rideau River.
An Ottawa Fire Services boat at Mooney’s Bay after a collision on Friday. CBC saw boats like it on the Rideau River around 6 a.m. Police told CBC on Saturday that the SUV had been recovered from the river. (Gabrielle Huston/CBC)
