Fourth-year students pass away in kayaking accident
The University of Guelph is mourning the loss of two fourth-year students. On Feb. 21, 2016, Peel paramedics arrived at the Credit River in Caledon, and confirmed that a female kayaker was dead on the scene. The female kayaker was later confirmed to be Kaya Firth—a fourth-year English student at the University of Guelph. Firth also served as the Sports and Health Editor at The Ontarion.
OPP received a call that two empty yellow kayaks were found stuck in the ice in the middle of the river. OPP deployed a helicopter, along with a canine unit and emergency response team, to conduct a search of the area.
It is believed that a former University of Guelph commerce student, Zach Sutherland, was with Firth at the time of the accident. Sutherland’s body was found by OPP on Feb. 23, 2016.