Watch above: As the search continues for 19-year-old Remy Nolet after he fell in the Chambly Basin while canoeing on Monday evening, his father reflected on his son’s heroism. Billy Shields has more.
MONTREAL — As the search continued for 19-year-old Remy Nolet after he fell in the Chambly Basin, his father reflected on his heroism Wednesday.
READ MORE: Search for missing 19-year-old man continues after canoe capsized in Chambly
“I was so proud of him before, I’m even more proud now,” he said.
“It seems less difficult in light of the sacrifice he made.”
Nolet was canoeing with 17-year-old Catherine Desautels Monday afternoon near Chambly, when the canoe capsized, throwing both in the frigid water.
One of the two life jackets stored in the bottom of the boat was lost, and Nolet let Desautels use the remaining one as the cold overtook the pair.
He eventually floated out of sight, but she was found in the water nearby Tuesday clinging to life and suffering from hypothermia.
“To me, the man is a hero,” said Daniel Desautels, Catherine’s father.
“He’s a hero for my daughter, a hero for my family.”
The incident has drawn attention to boating safety and the importance of wearing a life jacket.
According to the Quebec Lifesaving Society, hypothermia in frigid waters can take about 10 to 15 minutes to set in.
He described the situation as a reminder that boaters should always wear lifejackets, especially in early May.
“This is a situation where you can have an accident and fall overboard because the weather isn’t very good,” he said.
“People don’t wear lifejackets becaue they don’t expect to fall in the water.”
According to Hawkins, only about one in five boaters wear lifejackets as they take the water.
Provincial police are still searching for Nolet.
“It could take one day, maybe as many as two days,” said Officer Alain Cyr, a spokesperson for the Quebec provincial police.
— With files from the Canadian Press
Comments