What was supposed to be summer fun, has turned into tragedy. Two teenage boys have died in two separate drownings on Ottawa waterways in just days.
“Young males, whether its machoism, it may be they overestimate their abilities, they may or may not be drinking, and safety equipment is not cool to wear,” says Ottawa Police Sergeant Nelson Rowan.
Rowan leads the Ottawa Police Marine Dive & Trail Unit, the team responsible for the grim task of recovering victim’s bodies from the waterways. From winter to summer, they work in all conditions.
“Whether we’re looking for evidence, a person that’s gone missing, a vehicle that needs to be recovered, a snowmobile that’s gone through the ice, whatever it might be,” says Rowan.
The team welcomed CTV cameras during a high-angle recovery training exercise at a west-end quarry. It’s the same quarry where a young man died in August 2015, “quarries, you never know what you’re facing, if there is an undertow current, you never know what’s under the water.”
Quarries also pose a challenge for emergency crews, often remote, it’s hard for rescuers to find those in need of help and difficult to get rescue equipment in quickly.
The unit is accompanied by Ottawa Marine Paramedics, to ensure the safety of the operation and help officers who may be in need of assistance.
“Water is unpredictable,” says Ottawa Paramedic Brian Voelker.
Voelker and Nelson agree these latest tragedies are a grim reminder of water’s wrath.
“As an adult or older person, don’t swim alone, certainly have someone there who can help you or get help for you if you’re in distress,” warns Voelker, “if you have little kids, make sure they are an arm’s reach away.”
Rowan offers more life-saving advice, “if you’re on a boat have the right safety equipment with you. Don’t drink and boat. Don’t drink and swim.”
“If you’re going to swim at a remote site have something, like a life-jacket, to throw to a friend,” adds Rowan, “people have to understand that water is dangerous and you have to be safe around it.”