A pediatric critical care doctor who helped rescue a drowning boy in Kincardine in August is calling for safety upgrades to prevent a similar tragedy.
Dr. Jaime Blackwood of Calgary grew up in Kincardine, and still has a cottage and family in the town on the shores of Lake Huron. She said it's shocking that eight people have drowned at the pier in 20 years, but little has been done to address the situation.She would like to see more signage or a red flag warning system.
On August 12, while strolling with her friend and their children, Blackwood's 12-year-old child spotted something in the water.
"It was an man unconscious facedown in the water. And we ran to the end of the pier, trying to get his attention and see if there was something we could do," she explained. "And at that same moment, we looked to the side and I saw a young boy who was having troubles in the water. And so we instantly went to try and go and help him because he was definitely in trouble in the big waves."
Blackwood said it was a difficult rescue.
"He was holding on to the side of the pier, kind of in between two of the ladders, and he was going underwater and we got the life ring," she continued. "We were able to coach him to put the life ring kind of over his head. He was exhausted, but he was able to do that. We couldn't then physically pull him up."
They managed to drag the boy in the life ring closer to shore where they could pull him onto the pier and revive him.
"I was quite honestly in disbelief that this was happening. I'm a pediatric critical care physician, and deal with life and death every day. But walking along the pier with your kids and your friends and then coming upon this was quite something and so we did our best to get him out of the water as quickly as we could," she added. "Having grown up in Kincardine and having had a near drowning experience at Station Beach myself 20 years back, I knew that water was dangerous, and I didn't want to put any of us at increased risk"
Blackwood's brother and emergency responders arriving on scene managed to pull the man out of the water, but the 66-year-old couldn't be revived. Blackwood said she is speaking out because safety upgrades are needed as soon as possible.
"You do what you can, especially when there is a child involved, but I really want to ensure that some changes can occur so that no one else drowns or comes across someone drowning," she explained. "This leisurely walk along with pier with my friends and my kids turned into this rescue and witnessing a resuscitation"
Blackwood said there are a few warning signs on the beach, but she didn't notice anything on the pier warning about the dangerous structural rip current active that day.
"I couldn't see anything on the pier that said jump or not jump" she added. "I really want signs right at eye level, strongly worded, that share the risk of that area. I think a memorial should be on the pier because I do believe that would make people pause if they read that people had passed away from swimming, or jumping off of the pier."
She pointed out a red flag system would also help warn people about the potentially deadly waters. She pointed out it can be hard to tell if the water is dangerous just by looking.
"The water looked inviting. It was that aqua blue and almost had the look of a wave pool," Blackwood said. "As a local, I knew it would be dangerous to swim in that water, but anyone who is not a local, from out of town or otherwise, I think it can be really deceiving how dangerous that water really is. And a flag system could help people."
She said the ladders on the pier are deceiving, and not easy to use.
"I can speak from my own personal experience," she said. "You jump in, then you realize just how hard it is to get yourself out of the water with the water level being low, and some of the rungs are missing. It can be very difficult and I've had trouble getting myself up and I'm fairly athletic. I've had to help other people who weren't able to get up on the ladder by showing them where they could swim to another one and that's been on a calm day, let alone when the waters fighting against you."
Kincardine resident and certified lifeguard Blair Brajuha also continues to call for quick action at the Kincardine pier, especially as the town invites surfers to enjoy the fall waves off station beach.
The town of Kincardine has put together an ad hoc committee to review the situation, and consider information in a 2016 consultants report which offered solutions following a drowning in the same area.
