At 3 p.m. on Sunday afternoon, a distress call came from the stormy waters of Lake Simcoe.
Four Barrie Police officers jumped into action, working together to rescue a woman in distress in Lake Simcoe in the midst of Sunday’s thunderstorms, saving her life.
Barrie police Const. Emily Harris, Const. Curtis Thompson and Const. James Kelly jumped into the lake for the rescue, while Const. Robert Hall stayed on shore to provide support and monitor the gear left behind.
“They formulated a plan and they rescued this person who was in personal distress, getting (her) safely to shore,” said Barrie police communications co-ordinator Peter Leon. “Our officers are willing to do anything to preserve life.
“It could have been a very different dynamic if the water conditions had been more extreme,” he added.
The rescue occurred south of the breakwall near the government docks at the foot of Bayfield Street.
Leon said that while water rescues and swimming are part of the training done at the Ontario Police College for new recruits, Barrie Police doesn’t typically provide water-rescue training for officers.
“Having to enter the water isn’t something that happens on a regular basis,” he said.
Overall, Leon says the rescue was a team effort.
“We’re very proud of the officers and the great job they did. They never lost sight of the goal to bring that person safely ashore and get them the assistance they required,” he said.
