Surfers catching waves on the Ottawa River could face big fines

TORONTO – Far from the sandy beaches of Hawaii, surfers are tackling the Ottawa River as spring run-off makes for a wild, wavy ride.

However, some well-meaning bystanders have been calling 911 worried that the surfers are in danger and it could result in serious fines.

David Crichton tries to ride the waves when water levels are high and told Global News he’s been brought back to shore by Ottawa fire three times in the last two weeks.

“They’ll be surfing away and someone on shore will see them surfing and I guess just interpret it as they’re in distress and then call 911. And the next thing you know you’re surfing away and there’s a fire rescue boat behind you,” he said.

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "They'll be surfing away and someone on shore will see them surfing and I guess just interpret it as they're in distress and then call 911. And the next thing you know you're surfing away and there's a fire rescue boat behind you," he said.

Crichton said police have threatened to fine him $4,000 for “public mischief.”

“No one at the department, the fire department or the police or the paramedics, no one wants to see it end, but they just want to see a reduction in calls, which so do all the surfers cause it’s obviously not good for everyone,” he said.

Ottawa police say while there is a danger posed to first responders they also hope the public takes a second look before calling 911.

“There’s a risk to first responders also, if we have to rescue someone in the water and rapids… we have to take that into account,” said Cst. Marc Soucy, with the Ottawa police.

Other surfers, however, believe the threat of fines is meant to have an “effect” to keep them out of the water.

“I think threatening a charge is absolutely inappropriate and I think it’s really intended to have a chilling effect on what we do,” Trevor Cunningham told Global News.

Cunningham is also asking passersby to take careful look at the movement of the surfers in the water before calling emergency services.

*With files from Vassy Kapelos