Firefighters rescue paddle boarders with assistance from passing kayaker

Collingwood Fire Department were called to rescue two men from the water in Georgian Bay this weekend after they fell off their stand-up paddleboards. 

Deputy Fire Chief Dan Thurman said a crew of four firefighters responded to the Sept. 11 call at about 3 p.m. 

According to Thurman, two men fell off their boards and went into the water. They called out for help and a neighbour called 911. A kayaker nearby paddled over so the men could hang onto his kayak to stay afloat. 

Neither of the men was wearing a life jacket and they were not attached to their paddleboards. 

The rescue crew responded with the fire department rescue/fire suppression boat and pulled the men and their boards out of the water then returned them to shore "safe and sound." 

Thurman is reminding anyone who is venturing out onto the water to always wear a personal floatation device.