The lifeless body of a teenager was recovered from the frigid waters of the Rideau River in Ottawa, Canada, after four pals fell through the ice on Wednesday evening.
Ahmed Haitham, 17, was confirmed dead, a 15-year-old girl and a 17-year-old boy were rushed to hospital, and a 16-year-old boy remains missing after hours of overnight search efforts.
The tragedy unfolded when four companions fell through the ice near Nicholls Island Road around 9.30 pm, approximately 12 miles from downtown Ottawa.
The teenagers had planned to skate on the river, but the ice had been steadily melting due to warmer-than-average weather, as temperatures rose above freezing for the past week.
Two of the youths were successfully rescued and transported to the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario to receive treatment for mild hypothermia.
The lifeless body of a teenager was recovered from the frigid waters of the Rideau River in Ottawa, Canada , after four pals fell through the ice on Wednesday evening
Ahmed Haitham (pictured), 17, was confirmed dead, a 15-year-old girl and a 17-year-old boy were rushed to hospital, and a 16-year-old boy remains missing after hours of overnight search efforts
The tragedy unfolded when four companions fell through the ice near Nicholls Island Road (pictured) around 9.30pm, approximately 12 miles from downtown Ottawa
The Rideau River flows 91 miles from Upper Rideau Lake in Eastern Ontario to the Ottawa River. The body was found near Nicholls Island Road, approximately 12 miles from downtown Ottawa
Meanwhile, a police diver was sent to the hospital for what paramedics described as ‘a diving-related emergency.’
Ottawa police said in the early morning of Thursday: ‘Ottawa Police Service members and emergency crews were called to Nicolls Island Road late last night after reports of four youths who had fallen through ice on the Rideau River,’
The ‘water search in very difficult conditions’ continued through the night, they added. At the time. two more youths were still missing and believed to be in the water.
‘Police divers later recovered the body of one of the missing youths deceased,’ according to the authorities.
‘The search for the second youth had to be paused overnight and will commence this morning,’ they added.
The Rideau River flows 91 miles from Upper Rideau Lake in Eastern Ontario to the Ottawa River.
The famous Rideau Canal, situated upstream along the river, transforms into the world’s largest skating rink during winter.
The skating season is weather-dependent but typically runs from January to early March. The Skateway is currently closed.
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Haitham, the youngest of four children in his family, was a month away from turning 18
The famous Rideau Canal, situated upstream along the river, transforms into the world’s largest skating rink during winter
The ‘water search in very difficult conditions’ continued through the night, police said. At the time. two more youths were still missing and believed to be in the water
The ‘water search in very difficult conditions’ continued through the night, they added. At the time. two more youths were still missing and believed to be in the water
Haitham, the youngest of four children in his family, was a month away from turning 18, as reported by CBC.
The teenager’s father, Haitham Mohammed, and aunt Faten Ataallah were at the scene and waiting to see his body.
The family moved to Canada as refugees from Iraq a decade ago, Ataallah said. ‘They were excited to start a new beginning.’
Ataallah said Haitham hoped to attend a post-secondary police foundations program after he graduate from the John McRae Secondary School in February next year.
On Wednesday afternoon, Haitham left the family home to go skating with three friends but never came back.
‘We were all screaming,’ Ataallah said. “It’s really hard. We can’t describe. This is the worst feeling ever.’
Meanwhile, a police diver was sent to hospital for what paramedics described as ‘a diving-related emergency’
On Wednesday afternoon, Haitham left the family home to go skating with three friends but never came back
A GoFundMe page has been established for Haitham and has raised more than $8,000 Canadian dollars as of Thursday afternoon.
‘Ahmed Haitham was a teenager who was graduating in February 2024, he had aspirations to become a police man and was even being recruited,’ the fundraiser page reads.
‘Only a few nights after a green Christmas, the ice had been melting due to warmer weather,’ it says.
‘When he arrived at the river and put on his skates, he only took a few steps on the ice and unfortunately the ice broke.
‘Ahmed and his friends fought for their lives wearing heavy winter pants and jackets, with heavy skates trying to swim in pitch black darkness.
‘Ahmed was an amazing swimmer and he could hold his own and save someone as well. In the cold water fighting to save his friends and his own life.
‘Unfortunately, Ahmed and one of his friends didn’t not make it out.
‘Ahmed’s parents are in still in shock and calling his name asking “oh Ahmed where have you went”,’ the organizer wrote.
‘As you know rising costs, high mortgages/rent and grocery prices expensive. The family needs your help in this difficult time that every Canadian is going through with our economy.’