Cliff Rich

On September 22, 1999, Conservation Officer Cliff Rich assisted in attempting to rescue a person from a submerged vehicle at Wheatley Harbour on Lake Erie.

Officer Rich and his partner Officer Gary Caron witnessed a car, with the driver still inside, sink in the water of the harbour. While his partner entered the water in an attempt to free the driver, Officer Rich secured the assistance of a forklift truck from a nearby business. By attaching chains to the forklift, the submerged vehicle was lifted enough to open the driver’s door and free the trapped person from inside.

Although the driver of the vehicle could not be resuscitated, Conservation Officer Cliff Rich is commended for his attempted lifesaving actions.