What began as a casual afternoon paddle turned into a remarkable discovery on the Ottawa River earlier this month. While kayaking Butcher’s Knife Rapid during her personal time, Wilderness Tours Rafting Trip Leader Katie Quinn noticed something unusual beneath the surface. She texted Joel Kowalski, President and River Operations Manager of Wilderness Tours, describing what appeared to be a structure hidden under the current.
Curious, Kowalski paddled down to inspect. Through three to four feet of moving water, a flash of red appeared below the surface, but the swift current made it hard to discern what it was. Local river boarder Tom Paterson later dove beneath the waves to capture underwater photographs, revealing the unmistakable outline of a car resting on the riverbed.
Realizing the significance of the discovery, Kowalski immediately contacted 911 to report it. Members of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) met him near the site, launching their assessment from behind the River Barn, Wilderness Tours’ riverside restaurant at 10 Fletcher Road.
To help pinpoint the exact location, Casey Jones, Director of the Wilderness Tours Kayak School, deployed a drone, showing the car’s position roughly 300 metres from the nearest road access below a set of rapids and around a bend, invisible from any nearby lookout.
With the precise location documented, the OPP called in their Underwater Search and Recovery Unit to continue the investigation.
The following day, Wilderness Tours River Equipment Manager Zach Surette worked alongside the OPP, providing shuttle support, water safety, and technical assistance to access the site, which lay on an island in the middle of the rapids. With the help of Extreme Towing, the recovery effort began.
Using a Wilderness Tours raft, Kowalski, Surette, and OPP divers hovered over the site to secure large towing hooks to the car’s frame. After careful preparation, Extreme Towing’s portable winches were brought in, and the vehicle was successfully pulled from the water.
Once recovered, the car was identified as a red 2022 Honda Civic. The interior was filled only with river sediment and debris, and the body was heavily damaged from its time underwater. The VIN number was still intact, and when checked, matched a stolen vehicle report from 2024.
The vehicle currently rests near the shoreline, awaiting removal before winter water levels rise.
“It’s still a mystery how the vehicle made it into the rapids.” said Kowalski. “We’re proud of how our team and the OPP worked together to handle the situation safely and responsibly.”
Wilderness Tours thanks the OPP and all involved for their swift and professional response.