Boat took on water during a fishing trip on Cousins Lake northeast of Halifax April 10Published Apr 14, 2025 • Last updated 10 hours ago • 4 minute readStephen Lockhart with his support dog Remington (on his left). The dog on his right, Rosie, belongs to his wife. Photo by ContributedJust before losing consciousness, Stephen Lockhart managed to tie himself to the flooded boat.Lockhart, a retired Air Force veteran who had taken cold water training, was out in an aluminum boat on Cousins Lake northeast of Halifax on April 10 with his best friend from Truro.He also had his 10-year-old service dog Remington (Remi) with him.“We went to camp to spend Thursday to Saturday. Fix it up a little and to troll for trout,” Lockhart said in an interview over text on April 14 as he was too emotional for a phone call. He is recovering in his home outside of Bible Hill.THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY.Subscribe now to access this story and more:Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsSUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES.Subscribe or sign in to your account to continue your reading experience.Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsRegister to unlock more articles.Create an account or sign in to continue your reading experience.Access additional stories every monthShare your thoughts and join the conversation in our commenting communityGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountorArticle contentThey were on the water for around 20 minutes when one of the fishing lines got caught; the boat turned sideways “and the wind caught us just right.”They couldn’t bail out the water fast enough. Lockhart went around the side of the boat to get some rope, and when he looked up, his friend had drifted about six metres away from the boat. Lockhart said he tried to swim, but he couldn’t fight the wind and water.His friend had a life jacket, but Lockhart said he couldn’t tell if it was on him or if he was holding it. Lockhart said his own life jacket was snapped on.“I made it back to the boat. Put my dog on the seat and tried to swim to another rock sticking out,” he said.“I made it but again couldn’t bail fast enough. My hands stopped working and the last thought was to tie myself to the boat.”He said that as he was winding the rope around his arm, he could feel himself going dark.“I estimate I woke up an hour later, bouncing on the shore.”Washed up on shoreIt was a terrible awakening.Article contentLockhart said he came to and saw that his long-time support animal Remi was dead. He was floating in between the flooded seats. Lockhart said the long-haired Chihuahua was one of the smallest registered service dogs in the province. Remington, Stephen Lockhart’s support dog, who died in a boating accident on Cousins Lake in HRM on April 10. Photo by ContributedHe got Remi as a service dog to help him with his PTSD and hearing issues. Lockhart said Remi would wake him from nightmares — he would focus on his dog and not himself, and it would help.“I don’t know what to do without my boy,” he said.He said since the accident, he’s been instinctively reaching out for his dog who isn’t there.Onshore, Lockhart said he tried to stand and “landed flat on my face eight times.” He crawled and used a tree to stand. He found a cabin nearby, but it was locked and he couldn’t get in to warm up.“I took off enough layers to get to my phone and had to mash 911 a few times,” he said, adding that his phone died not long after he got a call through. It gave a notification that water was detected in the charging port.The searchArticle contentRCMP said they got the call shortly before 3:30 p.m. on April 10.They said a 58-year-old from Truro was missing and that Ground Search and Rescue teams from Halifax and Musquodoboit Valley, as well as the RCMP underwater recovery team, were assisting with the search.Recommended from Editorial Federal election 2025: N.S. news, coverage and analysis Lower Sackville girl rolling into skateboard stardom Lockhart said he doesn’t want to identify his friend out of respect for his family and because of the search.An RCMP spokesman said on April 14 that the search efforts have been suspended but are not yet concluded.No broken bonesBy the time first responders arrived on April 10, Lockhart said his feet, legs and arms were flailing from the shivers and that he had a “scrambled brain.”“I desperately wanted to stay to help but my feet had very little response,” he said. “I really should have died. My wife and I have a deal: I’m not allowed to die first. Joking of course, but I kept telling myself that.”Article contentLockhart said he wanted to thank everyone involved with the search and the first responders who quickly warmed him up. They rushed him away to the hospital.He has bruises on bruises but no broken bones. Lockhart said his left chest is bruised, the front of his legs are cut up and he has golfball-sized bruises on his feet.“I can’t start to explain the difficulties I’m having walking right now.”Beyond the physical is the emotional toll.“I keep picking up my phone expecting some funny TikTok or Facebook meme from my friend. He used to text me at 8 a.m. telling me the day is half over.”He said he feels like he needs to be out there helping but he’s weak, exhausted and can barely walk.“Pray my friend and family get closure.”Article content
I really should have died: Boating accident survivor credits training for saving his life
