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On June 30 around 8 p.m., Greater Sudbury Police received a call in the area of High Falls in Onaping about a father and his children who were in distress.
The initial information was that an adult male and a child, age 4, had been in the water and had struggled to get to shore. Two other children, ages 2 and 5, were stranded on an island and there was no way to get to them. EMS, police and fire were dispatched.
The island is about 150 feet from shore and surrounded by a strong current, which meant emergency personnel couldn’t access it. With the setting sun becoming a factor, two officers climbed the rocky hillside, crossed the High Falls Bridge and hiked back down the opposite side. The area is marked by evergreen trees, rocky terrain and a steep decline.
Half and hour later, officers crossed the rapids and reached the children, “who greeted them with hugs,” police said in a news release. “Firefighters used an inflatable rescue raft to return everyone safely to shore.”
The man and his three children were treated at the scene, taken to hospital for examination and later released.
“The Greater Sudbury Police Service would like to recognize the quick action of the witness who called for help,” police said in the release. “In addition, to all members of emergency services who attended and ensured a safe return of the stranded children.”
