2 campers rescued from Algonquin Park after severe thunderstorm Saturday night

Ontario Provincial Police said officers encountered fallen trees and debris during a rescue operation in Algonquin Park over the weekend.

Rescue teams traveled about 25 kilometers (15 miles) on roads and trails covered in debris and broken trees, then paddled 300 meters (1000 feet) in a canoe to rescue a mother and her 13-year-old son from a remote area of ​​Algonquin Park after a severe storm hit Saturday night.

The couple were camping near North Depot Lake in the park when a storm with strong winds swept through the area.

Police said a tree fell on their tent during the storm, causing the 13-year-old boy to suffer “very serious injuries.”

“The mother sent the coordinates to rescuers using a device equipped with an SOS (emergency distress signal),” police wrote in a statement on social media platform X (formerly Twitter).

The rescue operation was attended by officers from the Apraottawa Valley Police Department, Algonquin Park rangers and the Sierra Rescue Team from the Renfrew County Emergency Management Center.

The Ontario Provincial Police said that due to bad weather conditions, an air rescue was not possible, so rescuers had to navigate paths strewn with fallen trees and debris through dense forest.

Rescuers then traveled by boat to the injured mother and son and immediately began first aid.

By 8:30 a.m. Sunday, a Ministry of Natural Resources seaplane was able to land on a nearby lake and transport the mother and son to hospital. The teenager was treated there.

The provincial police said that rescuers traveled about 25 kilometers on dirt roads and debris-filled trails and finally paddled 300 meters to reach the camp.

North Depot Lake is located north of Algonquin Park, near the area of ​​​​Du Rivières.

Park officials said the storm caused damage to Algonquin Park Saturday night and Sunday morning.

Although the park remains open, officials have warned that traffic may be delayed and restricted in some areas.

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