Withington's Annual Report for 2025
About 20 years ago, residents of the Thousand Islands sector of the St. Lawrence valley encouraged and supported the Clayton Volunteer Fire Department in a project to upgrade emergency services to the Thousand Islands area. With support from both New York state residents and many Canadians, the new fireboat, Last Chance, was purchased and pressed into service. In an effort to show our appreciation, I have tried to write a brief summary of the summer's activities for December issues of Thousand Islands Life. It is hoped that this effort serves to reassure the local island residents and boaters that the services of Last Chance are being used and appreciated.
First Event
The first event of the season this year was the report of a small cruiser that was sinking east of Round Island. When I arrived, only the bow of the boat was above the water. The occupants had been rescued by a passing boater, and an anchor had been dropped with a fender attached to secure the location of the boat if it sank completely. There was no need for the fireboat, so we simply stood by until the salvage company arrived to tow the boat to Clayton. This was a significant event because the water temperature was still low, and survival in the water would have been difficult. Thanks to the passing boater, the owners were spared a cold swim and soon returned to the scene to support the salvage and recovery of the boat to Clayton.
Water Rescues
About a week later, we were notified of a "water rescue" call in the same area, east of Round Island. Apparently, two men were fishing from a bass boat. One of them appeared to have had a medical event that led to his falling overboard. Fortunately, his life vest automatically inflated as he hit the water. His partner was able to grab the life vest, call 911 to give their location near Calumet Blvd, and also drive the boat to tow the victim to shore. Fire personnel responded to the scene, entered the water, and initiated resuscitation. The embankment was steep and rocky. TIERS and the Clayton fire department managed to get him into a litter, up the embankment, and into the waiting ambulance. He was transported by helicopter from a landing zone at the Clayton firehall.
In July there was a windstorm, followed by a dispatch for a "water rescue" at Calumet Island. Apparently, a bass boat with occupants had been swamped and overturned east of Blanket Island. After about half an hour, they were spotted by residents of Calumet Island. Last Chance was dispatched to Calumet and took the survivors to Clayton. TIERS personnel provided treatment for hypothermia, and salvors righted the boat and towed it to Clayton. It was a close-call that ended well.
In August, a pleasant day was altered by rapidly rising wind from the west. Cape Vincent Fire Department was dispatched to assist boaters who had been overcome by the rising waves near Long Point, at the west end of Wolfe Island. Cape Vincent attempted to reach them but wisely recognized the need for back-up. Clayton was dispatched to assist and encountered punishing weather before reaching the scene. Fortunately, since the event was in Canadian waters, the Canadian Coast Guard had also been dispatched, and they were able to accomplish the rescue and relieve Cape Vincent and Clayton. All were pleased to return to base safely.
Photos by Kim Lunman. Be sure to see Kim's TI Life profile "The doctor is in." February 2012.
EMS Calls
As usual, there were several EMS calls to the islands for people who had been injured or become ill at their cottages.
TIERS personnel accompany the fire department on all boat calls. In these cases, the fire boat acts as an ambulance and provides a much-needed service to the islanders. There were also a few calls for island fires, but fortunately, they were controlled burns and were managed without difficulty.
Sadly, there was a death at Bathtub Bay near Picton Island. Law-enforcement managed that situation and fire department services were not required.
Thanks to all for your support again this year. Last Chance is scheduled for some up-grades over the winter, and will be back in service in the spring . . . See you then!
By Dr. Richard Withington
Dr. Richard (Dick) L. Withington is a retired Orthopaedic Surgeon and is best known on the River for his rescue work, with his boat Stormy. Over the years, Dr. W. articles have provided his special view of the Thousand Islands – and we thank him for this.
His first article for TI Life, "A Winter Islander", was published in January 2009. It is one of the most read TI Life articles in the past 18 years. To see all of his island experiences, search TI Life under Richard L. Withington for the first 23 article and then search here for the last eight articles written since 2018.
[Editor's Note: Being editor of TI Life is not a difficult task - because a lot of others help it be so. So, when I wrote to Dr. Withington and asked if he wanted to provide a 2025 review he said, "Sure"; I was pleased. However, the fact that the review came hours later, made this Editor not only smile, but agree, it is not a difficult task at all.]