Police said two teenagers died after skating and falling into the water on the Rideau River at the southern end of Ottawa, and the local school board said both were students at John McCrae Secondary School.
Emergency responders were alerted at 9:45 p.m. Wednesday that four teenagers had fallen into the ice on Nicolls Island Road near Manotick.
Police said the two teenagers were rescued by first responders and taken to hospital. According to paramedics, a 15-year-old girl and a 17-year-old boy were treated for mild hypothermia.
Source: GoFundMe
Police said the search and rescue was carried out in very difficult conditions and that night police found the body of one of the teenagers. A fundraising page on GoFundMe identified the victim as 17-year-old Ahmed Haitham.
In an update on Thursday night, police confirmed the discovery of the body of the second missing teenager. CTV identified the victim as 17-year-old Riley Cotter.
"We extend our deep condolences to all the families, friends and all those affected in this tragic loss," an Ottawa Police press release said. This event has had a profound impact on all of us, and we extend our condolences to those who are grieving.
A GoFundMe page for Ahmed Haitham says he aspires to become a police officer.
Source: CTV
Ahmed and his friends went ice skating. A few nights after experiencing a green Christmas, the ice began to melt due to the warmer weather. When he reached the river and put on his skates, he took a few steps on the ice, which unfortunately broke.
The fundraising page says Ahmed and his friends are fighting for their lives in heavy winter pants, jackets and heavy skates.
Carly Roome, a resident who called the police, said one of the teens came to her door and asked her for help.
She said he knocked on our door, rang the doorbell and said his friend had fallen into the ice and he needed help. We immediately called the police and drove him back to the bridge, where his sister was too, so we just waited for the police to come.
Roome said she stayed with the teenager for a while, waiting for the police to arrive.
Source: CTV
I was really shocked, she said. I feel so sad for that kid who lost a friend. He rushed to our house with all his might, and I think he did what he could. He did all the right things to save his friends.
According to paramedics, an Ottawa police officer was taken to hospital with diving-related injuries.
Ottawa's December was warmer than usual, with temperatures above 0 degrees Celsius for five consecutive days. Temperatures reached 6.6 degrees Celsius on Tuesday and 4.1 degrees Celsius on Wednesday.
This is one of the most recent similar tragic incidents across the country.
Alberta's RCMP confirmed this week that a family of three died after crossing thin ice while riding in an all-terrain vehicle just before Christmas.
Source: CTV
Last week, a four-year-old girl in Quebec also fell into the river, and her body has not yet been found.
Ontario police remind residents to carefully assess the ice and quality before setting foot on a frozen lake or river.