In Ottawa’s south end, a devastating incident occurred as two youths fell through the ice on the Rideau River, resulting in the death of a 17-year-old and a continuing search for a missing 16-year-old. Emergency crews responded to the call at 9:45 p.m. on Wednesday along Nicolls Island Road near Manotick.
Rescue operations retrieved two youths, a 15-year-old girl, and a 17-year-old boy, who were treated for mild hypothermia. However, two 16-year-old and 17-year-old males were still missing and believed to be in the water, prompting a challenging rescue operation through the night.
The body of one missing youth was recovered, identified as 17-year-old Ahmed Haitham. A GoFundMe page highlighted Ahmed’s aspirations to become a police officer and mentioned the tragic incident on Nicolls Island, where the ice broke while he and his friends were skating.
The search continues for the second missing youth, identified as 16-year-old Riley Cotter. Carly Roome, a resident who made the 911 call, shared her account of the incident, emphasizing the distressing situation and the efforts made by one of the teens to seek help.
An Ottawa police officer sustained a dive-related injury and was transported to the hospital. The tragedy adds to a series of similar incidents across the country, emphasizing the importance of caution and ice assessment before venturing onto frozen lakes or rivers, particularly amid warmer-than-normal temperatures in December.
The community is mourning the loss of Ahmed Haitham, and search crews are tirelessly working to locate Riley Cotter, offering condolences and support to the affected families.