Heroic rescue in Smiths Falls as youth pulled from icy Rideau River

A tragedy was narrowly averted in Smiths Falls on Friday when a local youth fell through the ice on the Rideau River.

The Smiths Falls Police Service says police, fire and paramedic units were all dispatched to the area of the river across from the Econo Lodge on Jan. 10 at about 2 p.m. Members of the Smiths Falls Fire Department entered the icy water and successfully retrieved the youth, who was taken to hospital to be treated to hypothermia.

“The youth did exactly what he was supposed to- remained calm and listened to the rescuers,” reads a social media post that accompanied the video posted by Smiths Falls police. “His friends did the right thing and called 911 telling our dispatcher where they were.”

Police say they received permission to post the video (the source of the above screengrabs) from the youth’s parents as an educational piece, to warn others of the dangers of ice. View the full video here.

“Smiths Falls police would like to remind the public that no ice is safe ice,” reads a media release. “Ice can be greatly affected by weather changes, water depth and currents. Ice does not form at uniform thickness on any body of water. No one should venture onto the ice in unstable conditions.”