Couple rescue deer from river

OMEMEE – A white-tailed deer may be alive today thanks to the efforts of an Omemee-area couple who saved it from drowning in the Pigeon River just south of the village Sunday afternoon, said a witness who recorded the effort.

Andrew Burch was heading home to Mount Pleasant from Omemee when he came across the couple preparing to save the ruminant near a culvert on Ski Hill Road.

“It was pretty amazing of them to do that,” he said, explaining how saw the likely-hypothermic animal struggling to stay afloat about 100 metres from shore.

The husband set out in a rowboat to pull the animal from the frigid water.

Some of the wide river was covered with a snow-covered thin layer of ice, but most if it was jet black – barely thick enough to hold a much smaller animal.

Once at the shore, the husband and wife wrapped the deer in blankets. It was exhausted, but seemed to be recovering, judging from the fact it ate some corn feed.

“That’s an indicator that it’s probably going to be okay,” said Burch, who took photos and video of the couple’s heroics before continuing on his way.

He provided the names of the Ski Hill Road couple, but The Examiner was not immediately able to reach them Sunday evening.