Toronto man rescued after spending night stuck under rocks on Scarborough Bluffs
The passerby who helped save a man stuck under rocks at the Scarborough Bluffs overnight told his story to CBC News Thursday afternoon.
Steve Menzie and his dog were on their regular morning run along Scarborough Bluffs Thursday, when Menzie saw something — or someone — floating in the water.
"Initially I thought it might have been a homeless person having a little rinse, or going to the washroom," said Menzie, who said he didn't have his glasses at the time.
He yelled out to see if the person needed any help.
"As I got closer, I saw he had a backpack on and he had a walking stick," said Menzie. "He was holding his head out of the water."
The elderly man was lying on his side in the water with his foot stuck in the rocks underneath, said Menzie. He said he jumped in the water towards the man. "It was super hot, and he was still kind of shaking a little bit."
Menzie said he told the man to "sit tight" while he ran back home to call for help. "I grabbed water, some electrolytes, and a bunch of power bars," said Menzie, who ran back to the stranded man until first responders arrived.
Toronto firefighters were called to the scene at 8 a.m.
"He went for a walk last night and his foot got caught on a rock," said Maryann Munns with Toronto Paramedic Services. "Despite the heavy rainfall last night, he managed to be in good spirits this morning."
The man was near the waterworks drainage, just west of Glen Everest Road near Rosetta McClain Gardens, according to Toronto Fire Services.
"He would have likely been without sleep and likely without food and water for a number of hours," said Toronto Fire Capt. Adrian Ratushniak.
He added that the area is not known to them as typically dangerous.
"I've never heard of this kind of incident before," said Ratushniak. "Typically we think of kids going up or down the bluffs getting stuck, or dogs tumbling down."
Toronto police sent a Marine Unit boat to rescue the man.
He was taken to a local hospital and is believed to have minor injuries.
Menzie said he'll visit the man next week.
"He said he performs gospel music near the Victoria Park subway station. He was kind of disappointed he wasn't able to perform there this morning."
