Warnings Issued After Multiple River Rescues in London

Three people needed rescuing from the Thames River in the past two days as rising water levels create hazardous conditions along the shore.

London Fire crews responded to two different incidents, including one on Monday morning near Richmond Street just south of Grey Street, where firefighters saved a man who was in trouble near the riverbank.

The day prior, two boys were rescued after being stranded on a small island in the river close to Highbury Avenue and Fanshawe Park Road.

“It’s just a stark reminder that even if you were out in recreation activities in our area, that the water is very fast moving, very unforgiving, and that the trails are very slippery around that area,” Platoon Chief Colin Shewell said.

Emergency crews respond near Richmond Street just south of Grey Street in London on Monday after a man was reported in distress near the Thames River. (London Fire Department)

The rescues took place as the Thames River overflowed its banks following significant rain and rapid snowmelt over the weekend.

Rivers throughout Ontario are causing flooding issues, with some people becoming stranded when ice broke away on Georgian Bay near Owen Sound.

“The ground beneath you could give out, and within seconds, you could be in that water,” Shewell said.

He explained that fire crews used ropes to pull the man to safety around 9 a. m. Monday after he got stuck on a concrete structure by the river and couldn’t make it back up the steep and slippery bank.

The boys rescued on Sunday were also unharmed.

Spring thaw

“The Thames was really quite high through London,” Upper Thames River Conservation Authority spokesperson Eleanor Heagy said. “With all the rain that we had last week, warm weather and lots and lots of snow melting upstream of London, the river was getting quite high”

Heagy mentioned that this situation is known as a freshet. It occurs when accumulated snow across watersheds melts quickly and flows into rivers and streams, often alongside rainfall.

High water from the Thames River floods a pathway near Ridout Street North in London on Sunday as river levels rose following rain and snowmelt. (James Ross)

“We went from a lot of snow in the watershed of the Upper Thames to pretty much no snow left,” Heagy said.

The North Thames River reached its peak Saturday evening in London, while the South Thames flowing from Woodstock peaked early Sunday morning.

Heagy clarified that as water moves toward London, it gathers flow from creeks and tributaries across its path; thus, peak flows are generally seen around where both branches meet.

Even though those peaks have passed through town now, high water levels are expected to continue for several days.Water crested at Forks of Thames on Saturday. This was what it looked like on Monday , March 9 , 2026. (Josiane N’Tchoreret Mbiamany / )

Heagy and Shewell both urge people not to walk or drive through flooded areas and keep children along with pets away from these waters.

“Even on a beautiful sunny day like today , it’s important to stay well away from flooded waterways and always stay out of flooded areas,” Heagy stated.

Emergency services report many incidents involving rivers can be prevented by taking simple precautions.

“A lot of these water rescues are preventable,” Shewell noted. “If people would just keep an eye around their surroundings and be safe.”

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