The quick thinking of classmates and a teacher is being credited as key in the rescue of two students whose canoes capsized in the Grand River on Tuesday.
The students were part of a group of 40 from North Park Collegiate in Brantford, who were taking part in a trip on the river, launching from Cambridge’s south end and travelling to Glen Morris.
They were in the area behind the Petro-Canada gas station along Highway 24 north of Myers Road when one student dropped her paddle – and her efforts to retrieved it caused the boat to capsize.
A second group of students – travelling in another canoe with a teacher – saw it happen and moved in to help.
“The teacher accounted for all of the four students that were directly involved, got them to the shore and called 911,” said Cambridge Fire Department platoon chief Brad Churchill.
All five had been wearing lifejackets.
By the time firefighters arrived, the quintet had gathered on the far shore of the river.
The group was taken to hospital for observation, while the rest of their party continued on to Glen Morris.
Water levels in the area were “surprisingly high for this time of year,” Churchill said.
