Rideau River drowning deaths ‘deeply felt’ at John McCrae Secondary School

Rideau River drowning deaths ‘deeply felt’ at John McCrae Secondary School

The bodies of Ahmed Haitham, 17, and Riley Cotter, 16, were discovered in the water south of Nicolls Island Road.

Released Dec 29, 2023Last upgraded 8 hours ago3 minute checked out

Riley Cotter, 16, and Ahmed Haitham, 17, became part of the exact same pal group at John McCrae Secondary School in Barrhaven. Picture thanks to Anthony Philion Picture by Provided

Barrhaven’s John McCrae Secondary School will have a psychological health group on website when trainees return in the brand-new year without 2 of their much-loved schoolmates.

Trainees Ahmed Haitham, 17, and Riley Cotter, 16, drowned late Wednesday after failing the ice on the Rideau River, near Nicolls Island, north of Manotick.

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Haitham’s household stated they were ice skating on the river.

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“This is extremely unfortunate news for all of us. This disaster will be felt deeply by trainees and personnel in our neighborhood,” Diane Pernari, basic supervisor of interactions for the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board, stated Friday.

Pernari stated the board has actually connected to the households of the trainees, and has actually provided psychological health assistance to trainees and personnel at John McCrae Secondary School.

“Our very first top priority is to make sure that we are supporting the households of the trainees and our school neighborhood in any method that we can,” Pernari stated. School is to resume Jan. 8th.

Ottawa cops scuba divers recuperated the bodies of the 2 teens Thursday near the coast of Nicolls Island. The 2 boys had actually been missing out on considering that Wednesday night when 4 teens failed the ice while a few of them went skating.

2 members of the group, a 15-year-old woman and a 17-year-old male, handled to rush to coast and go to a close-by home on Nicolls Island for aid. They were required to CHEO with moderate hypothermia.

A memorial is now published on a fence outside Ahmed Haitham’s Barrhaven home. “He was cheerful, generous, happy and flexible,” the homage from his household checks out. “He enjoyed animals and assisting others and chased his dreams constantly with a smile.”

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Haitham got here in Canada as a refugee from Iraq about a years back. He was anticipated to finish high school early next year, and wished to end up being a law enforcement officer, according to a GoFundMe page established to assist the household with funeral expenses.

About a lots individuals collected around the memorial Thursday and Friday. The mourners put cups of tea.

Ahmed Haitham, 17, was among 2 trainees from John McCrae Secondary School to drown after failing the ice of the Rideau River on Wednesday evening.Photo thanks to Tania Massé Picture by Provided /ott

Barrhaven’s Tania Massé stated she has actually understood Ahmed from the time he was a young kid given that he was a veteran pal of her kid, Anthony. Massé stated Ahmed was an outbound, amusing teen, who liked swimming, beach ball and motorbikes.

“Ahmed was constantly at our home and our home: He resembled a member of our household,” Massé stated Friday. “He was really thoughtful, constantly going to assist, constantly put his good friends initially.”

Anthony Philion, 17, stated he has actually understood Ahmed because they were both in Grade 2. “We hung out a lot, played computer game, paintballing, all sort of various things,” Philion stated. “He was somebody who constantly revealed love, never ever disliked.”

Riley Cotter belonged to the exact same buddy group, he stated, and was enthusiastic about snowboarding and motorcycle. “He was everything about the outdoors,” Philion stated. “He was a cheerful guy, the sort of guy who liked whatever about awakening in the early morning.”

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Barrhaven East Coun. Wilson Lo stated he was deeply saddened by the loss of the 2 young Barrhaven trainees. “Our neighborhood is grieving with the households, pals, and neighbours of Ahmed Haitham and Riley Cotter. My genuine compassions,” he stated Friday.

The bodies of the 2 boys were discovered in the water south of Nicolls Island Road, on the south side of the Long Island Stone Arch Dam.

Ottawa cops stated they were contacted us to the scene at 9:45 p.m. on Wednesday following a report about 4 youths failing the ice. The authorities marine system, assisted by Ottawa firemens, carried out a ground and water search.

– With files from Marlo Glass

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