10 people rescued from Guelph Lake during Canada Day storm

10 people rescued from Guelph Lake during Canada Day storm

City of Guelph is sharing safety tips for kayakers after people had to be pulled from water

Ten people were rescued on Canada Day after becoming stranded on Guelph Lake.

The Guelph Fire Department's specialty water rescue team was called to the Guelph Lake Conservation Area after receiving reports of two paddleboarders in distress just after 5 p.m.

"After the water rescue boat launched, responders quickly located two individuals in distress — one clinging to a kayak and another stranded in open water on the opposite side of the island," the City of Guelph said in a press release on Thursday.

"During the initial rescue operation, responders spotted several additional people stranded at multiple locations around the lake. Crews then safely rescued and transported an additional eight individuals to the main dock."

Ontario Provincial Police also assisted with the land and water searches.

In addition to the ten people rescued, police also found a mother and child that had briefly been reported missing while kayaking. They were found safe on the beach.

A quick dip to cool off could spell trouble for novice swimmers, Lifesaving Society researcher says

"This incident highlights exactly what our specialty water rescue personnel train for year-round, from open-water rescues to ice rescue operations," said Deputy Fire Chief Jonathan Wilker in the city's press release.

"Our teams are constantly prepared to respond rapidly when lives are on the line and their swift actions yesterday helped prevent a major tragedy."

Waterloo region, Guelph and Wellington County were under a thunderstorm warning Wednesday afternoon.

Brisk winds picked up and dark clouds rolled through the area. The wind was enough to cause branches to break, hitting powerlines, homes and trailers.

The Waterloo Regional Police Service reported 45 reports of dangerous conditions in an hour on Wednesday afternoon.

Parts of southern Ontario remain without power Thursday.

The Guelph Fire Department is sharing the following safety tips for those who want to participate in water activities to help make sure they are prepared for a rapidly developing storm:

Aastha Shetty is a journalist with CBC Kitchener-Waterloo. She has lived, worked and told stories in Waterloo region and surrounding areas since 2018. She has covered a variety of topics including housing and affordability, consumer rights and social injustice. She also has experience as a court reporter and as a multimedia producer. Get in touch: aastha.shetty@cbc.ca or 226 338 7845.