Diver trapped under the ice dies after rescue from Welland canal
Two men in 20s were scuba diving at scuba park on Saturday
A diver in his 20s died after being trapped under the ice on the Welland Recreational Canal Saturday afternoon.
Niagara Regional Police, Welland Fire and Emergency Services and Niagara Emergency Medical Services all responded to the Lincoln Street Docks at 1:04 p.m. for the report of a diver in distress.
In a release, police said two men in their 20s were scuba diving in the waters when they became separated under the ice.
The area the two divers were in is home to Welland Scuba Park. It runs between the Lincoln Street and Ontario Road bridges and has underwater features for divers to explore.
One diver surfaced in an attempt to locate his partner, said police, adding a passerby walking along the canal bank called 911.
Welland Fire and Emergency Services Chief Adam Eckhart said when firefighters arrived they found the missing diver’s partner who reported the area he had last seen the man.
The chief said firefighters donned Mustang survival suits, used an inflatable rapid deployment craft (RDC), made their way onto the ice and headed to the diver’s last known location.
Firefighters were close to the east bank of the recreational canal, and police and Niagara EMS paramedics and a supervisor set up off Canal Bank Street between Fourth and Fifth streets.
When found, the man was loaded on the RDC, secured with a line on the west canal bank. Firefighters pulled on the line and brought the RDC quickly back to shore to waiting paramedics.
Firefighters and paramedics performed CPR on the diver, who was taken to Welland hospital, but police said the man was pronounced dead.
Eckhart said it was a complicated rescue with ice conditions that prevented the launch of the fire service’s landing craft-style rescue boat, access to the waterway and underwater currents.
“It’s a fairly mild current, but it changes depending on the weather and water conditions connected to the St. Lawrence Seaway,” he said, adding
members of the regional police dive unit were on scene as well.
The recreational canal connects to the working Welland Canal at the north end of the city.
Eckhart said residents should use caution, and not trust the ice on the recreational canal despite appearances.
“It’s a fairly mild current, but it changes depending on the weather and water conditions connected to the St. Lawrence Seaway.”
ADAM ECKHART
WELLAND FIRE AND EMERGENCY SERVICES CHIEF
“No ice is safe ice.” Police detectives and the office of the coroner continue to investigate the incident.