A man has died after emergency crews rescued him from the water near Britannia Beach on Tuesday morning.
A spokesperson for Ottawa Police Service said via email they received a call at about 10:05 a.m. about a person in the water “appearing to be in distress.” It happened off the water in the 2700 block of Cassels Street.
The man was brought to the hospital in life-threatening condition, according to the Ottawa Paramedic Service.
The man was pronounced dead after being taken to the hospital, police said, adding that the cause of death is unknown.
Ottawa Fire Services said on X that crews got a call from a staff member at the Britannia Yacht Club saying someone reported a person was stuck under the water in the Deschênes Rapids.
“Upon arrival, firefighters confirmed an individual was submerged under the water halfway between shore and a capsized boat from a rescue last week in the same spot,” reads the post.
Ottawa fire said the person was stuck in a rope that was used to attach the capsized boat to the shore.
A water rescue technician used a knife to cut the rope and free the individual and crews brought the individual to the shore, Ottawa fire said.
The individual was unresponsive, according to Ottawa fire, and firefighters began CPR and continued to provide CPR on route to the hospital.
Not deemed safe for swimming
The city has not started to supervise swimming at its four beaches yet and the water quality at Britannia Beach has not been deemed safe for swimming.
Lifeguards will monitor Britannia Beach, Mooney’s Bay Beach, Petrie East Bay and Petrie River from June 15 until Aug. 25, 2024, from noon to 7 p.m. every day, according to the City of Ottawa.
Last summer, local officials including Councillor Theresa Kavanagh — whose ward includes Britannia Beach — emphasized water safety in the area after numerous rescues had to be made.
In one incident, a 17-year-old girl was rescued and the body of a 21-year-old man was recovered days later.