The Way We Were Compiled by Bonnie Chevrier

July 21, 1993

25 Years Ago
Heroic rescue saves lives: On July 18, at the beach in Quyon, quick, selfless action saved two young men from drowning.
Sometime around noon, Scott Smith, 12 ,and Lonnie Collier, 15, both of Aylmer took a break from the Pontiac Pride Jamboree to swim where the Quyon River empties into the Ottawa. They were having fun exploring the hot and cold currents of where the waters of the two rivers mingle. However, those same currents are quite powerful and created a treacherous undertow.
The boys both began screaming for help. Mr. McMillan rescued Scott from the water and then set out to retrieve his companion. By the time bystander Dwight McMillan reached the spot, Lonnie was about 70 yards out from shore. He started going under. Being an experienced scuba diver, Mr. McMillan is a strong swimmer. Nevertheless, by the time he reached Lonnie, he was exhausted. The current was continuing to take them further away from shore. Unable to fight the current, the two of them might have been lost had it not been for a passing boat. They were hauled aboard and taken to safety by a boater who disappeared afterward and has not been identified.