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Thread: It’s a scene straight out of the movies. @District6Chief Bill Bell saved a woman’s life last night after her car went into the Ottawa River at Dunrobin Shores.
The chief was at his Dunrobin home when the call came in at 12:19 a.m.
#ottnews
The chief was at his Dunrobin home when the call came in at 12:19 a.m.
#ottnews
As he drove to Thomas A. Dolan Parkway at Barlow Crescent, he received updates from dispatch that the woman was trapped and the water in the car had risen to her chest.
He drove a little quicker. Halfway there, he was told the water was at the woman’s shoulders.
He drove a little quicker. Halfway there, he was told the water was at the woman’s shoulders.
She had remained on the line with police dispatch, which was relaying important updates to the fire department’s communications centre.
When Bell arrived, he could see headlights under the water and a bit of the roof of the car about 60 feet from shore.
When Bell arrived, he could see headlights under the water and a bit of the roof of the car about 60 feet from shore.
“I grabbed a life jacket and kicked off my shoes and jumped in the water and swam out to the car,” Bell said.
He also grabbed a window punch tool that firefighters use to shatter vehicle windows.
He made contact with the woman at the driver’s side window.
He also grabbed a window punch tool that firefighters use to shatter vehicle windows.
He made contact with the woman at the driver’s side window.
“She was obviously very upset but in good health. I just told her, 'Don’t worry, you’re coming out no matter what.'”
He knew he'd get her out but had to quickly figure out how.
He knew he'd get her out but had to quickly figure out how.
Bell unsuccessfully tried to open the driver’s door, then broke the glass of the back passenger side door and reached for the handle. But that also didn’t work.
Bell directed the woman to face away so he could break the driver’s window. He then unsuccessfully tried the handle from the inside.
“I didn’t have a lot of time to play with it. She actually had to tilt her head back in order to get her mouth and nose above the water.”
“I didn’t have a lot of time to play with it. She actually had to tilt her head back in order to get her mouth and nose above the water.”
He then cleared the shards from the window, pulled the woman out, and swam her back to shore where @OttawaPolice & @OttFire from Station 64 in South March and Station 66 in Dunrobin were waiting.
Bell said the woman was cold and shivering and suffering from mild shock. @OttawaParamedic took over her care.
In all, it had taken Bell about a minute and a half to get her out of the submerged vehicle.
In all, it had taken Bell about a minute and a half to get her out of the submerged vehicle.
Bell said he was just happy he was able to help and that any first responder would have done the same.
“It’s just automatic,” he said. “You just do it. You just get it done."
“It’s just automatic,” he said. “You just do it. You just get it done."
“It’s nice to have the privilege and the honour to be in a position to help and contribute to someone’s life in a positive way,” said Bell. “And then you move on and you wait for the next call.”
