WATCH: Hazel McCallion catches a big fish with help from Mayor Ford. Lama Nicolas reports.
TORONTO – Mississauga Mayor Hazel McCallion is as feisty a politician as they come but sometimes when trouble lurks even the ‘Hurricane’ needs help now and then.
It was none other than Toronto Mayor Rob Ford who saved the day on Thursday, and perhaps her life, when McCallion nearly went overboard trying to reel in a salmon as part of the Great Ontario Salmon Derby.
The two mayors were on the final stretch of a day-long fishing trip when the 92-year-old Mississauga mayor managed to snag a salmon 20 km off of Port Credit.
Unfortunately McCallion’s grit and determination was no match for the fish and the rod bent, nearly pulling her over the boat and into Lake Ontario.
Luckily, Ford was right beside her and pictures show the Toronto mayor grabbing his counterpart with a bear hug type grip, preventing McCallion from hitting the water.
“She hooked into a big salmon and she almost went overboard. All joking aside, it was pretty serious. But I guess I still have some football left in me, I was saving a tackle there,” Ford said. “I’m not a hero. It was close. When a big fish hooks you and it goes down, it jolts you.”
She was finally able to pull in the Chinook but credits Ford for a large helping hand.
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