Canadian Yachting June 2017 - 38

An Interview with a Life Saver

THE PORT HOLE

R. John Garside AP

It was a warm summer's day at Lock 23 on the Trent Canal
and families had gathered to celebrate the end of the school
year, and to celebrate the coming of summer, the traditional
way many Canadian families do, by having a picnic by the
water. Darren Life and his family had travelled to this site as
well on their 40 foot aft cabin cruiser to take in the sun, and
the fun of being on the water. All was quiet and calm.
Darren has been a CPS-ECP member since 2009 when he
took the Peterborough Squadron's Boating Course. When
I asked him why he became a member he replied "I always
err on the side of safety, no matter what I do, and with my
family planning longer (boating) trips I felt this is something I should do". Previously he had boated extensively in
the Thousand Islands of the St. Lawrence in a small cuddy
cruiser, as he and his wife Jenn would often take off for a
quick spin after work to their local swimming hole known
only to them. The islands were full of small bays and inlets
so there was always something new to explore as well.
Swimming has always been part of Darren's life too. As
a child and teenager he took an active part in many swimming lessons and was part of his high school varsity swim
team. "It was good fun and I really enjoyed being in the
water, it's a natural for me". In addition to his very competent swimming skills Darren has also kept his CPR certification up to date and has taken several first aid courses to
enhance his "safety first" calling in his life.
In 2008 the family of four moved from the Gananoque area
to Peterborough and a whole new boating opportunity presented itself. Living so close to the Trent Canal system was
a waiting invitation for the whole family, and so after taking
the CPS-ECP Boating Course Darren felt he was ready to
explore it more and with a larger boat as well. So with two
weeks of summer holidays the family explored the waters of
the Trent sometimes travelling north into Kawartha Lakes to
38

Canadian Yachting

June 2017

Rosedale or at other times south into the lower reaches of the
Otonabee River. Either way, the vacation was always interesting and refreshing for all family members.
On Sunday June 29, 2014 the family was aboard their vessel
and heading upstream to Lock 23. It was just before the hour
of noon. As per usual the lock was busy and there were lots
of people about, both on their boats waiting to lock through
and on the land beginning their noon hour picnics. Included
in the picnic group was an extended family from the Toronto
area who were gathering for a family reunion. The Toronto
picnickers were enjoying themselves until one of their group, a
twelve year old child reached out to recover her lost tennis ball
that had found its way into the water. Reaching out to recover
the ball she fell in and the commotion began.
Now those familiar with the Trent will know that the down
side of the dams are full of rapids and quick flowing water so as
the child entered the water the current quickly took her away
from the shoreline and began sending her down river and away
from the shore. Wanting to help, four of the adults in the Toronto party then also entered the water to effect a rescue but
they too were caught by the current and swept away from the
shore. Things were now going from bad to worse. Darren, seeing the child struggling in the water, immediately dove in and
proceeded to swim to her to effect a rescue. His wife, Jenn,
meanwhile was raising the alarm amongst the other boaters
close at hand and several life rings were carefully tossed in the
direction of the now struggling four adults.
Darren was then able to get the girl on his back and
three of the adults were able to cling to the thrown life
rings and begin their trip back to shore. Unfortunately one
adult was unable to access a ring and drowned. With the
girl on his back Darren then made for the nearest shore
and commented that, "the current was very strong and I
had to swim fifty yards to reach the child but the rescue

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Canadian Yachting June 2017