WHITEWATER REGION (near Foresters Falls) – Trooper Sam Christiansen fell into the Lorne Rapids of the Ottawa River on Friday, June 22. His family reports his body has been found.
The 20-year-old was swimming with a friend and got caught in the undertow. His friend was able to get to land call to for help.
His mom Sherelyn Lachapelle Christiansen wrote: Our son, Samuel, went missing while swimming in the Ottawa River on 22 June when he became caught in a section of rapids. He has been located and has unfortunately passed. We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to the Ontario Provincial Police, the Whitewater Region Fire Department, the military’s Search and Rescue personnel, and the Ottawa Valley paddling community who we know have been searching day and night for Samuel. Our thanks also go to Quebec Hydro for assisting the search by restricting their dam operations. Thank you for finding our son. We have received a flood of support from our home community, Ottawa Valley and right across Canada and beyond which has meant a great deal and are very grateful.
We are asking please for privacy during this difficult time.
Prior to the location of Trooper Christiansen’s body, the Upper Ottawa Valley OPP reported that on Friday, June 22, at approximately 830 p.m., officers were dispatched to an area of rapids known as the Lorne Rapids on the Ottawa River in Whitewater Region township after a male swimmer failed to return to shore. The missing 20-year-old man, from the Town of Petawawa, had entered the water earlier that evening with a second man from Petawawa. Both men became caught in a section of rapids on the Ottawa River adjacent to Grants Settlement Road and were swept away. The second male was eventually able to make his way to shore and summoned for help after the first male was not accounted for.
Members of the OPP, Whitewater Region Fire Department, Garrison Petawawa Fire Department and Renfrew County Paramedics responded and were assisted in the initial search by local professionals in the whitewater rafting community. The Joint Rescue Co-ordination Centre (JRCC) was notified and two helicopters with Forward-Looking Infrared (FLIR) technology were deployed to the area to assist in the search at the time but were met with negative results. The search continued on Saturday and Sunday, June 23 and 24, with the assistance of the OPP helicopter and OPP’s Underwater Search and Recovery Unit (USRU).
In addition to a ground search, the OPP’s USRU continued the search on June 25 and 26, with negative results.
Yesterday, June 27, with the assistance of Hydro Quebec, the water levels on the river were temporarily lowered to assist the OPP’s USRU with their search efforts. The OPP’s helicopter, members of OPP’s Emergency Response Team (ERT) and military members are also assisting with the search on June 27.
