CSL crew commended for saving man’s life on Lake Ontario

With a career spanning 40 years on the water, Capt. Wilson Walters of the CSL Welland performed his first-ever rescue this past Saturday saving a man’s life on Lake Ontario.

Walters and the 16-member crew of the Canada Steamship Lines bulk carrier were headed toward Quebec City off the coast of Olcott, N.Y., about 30 kilometres east of Niagara-on-theLake, when crew members on watch in the wheelhouse noticed objects floating in the water.

In a release, the company said Walters, who has been with it for 25 years, was immediately notified and communicated the information to the Canadian and U.S. coast guards.

The Montreal-based shipping company said the entire crew immediately deployed man overboard protocols.

“Meanwhile, a small fishing boat was sighted in the area and was summoned by the captain to assist with the rescue of one of the individuals. The fishing boat was able to rescue a conscious man, who was transferred onto CSL Welland,” the company said.

Crew members provided necessary first aid to prevent shock.

The man was visibly unconscious, the release said, and crew members started CPR once he was inside the rescue boat.

“The man was transferred into the assisting fishing vessel and CPR was continuously performed until the arrival of the U.S. and Canadian coast guards. Once on the scene, coast guard officials boarded the fishing vessel and attended to the unconscious man who was pronounced dead shortly after.”

Following the departure of the coast guard, Walters held a meeting with his crew and commended them on their efforts.