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Woman missing, man rescued on Ottawa River after going out in a kayak

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A search continues in the Ottawa River for a 30-year-old woman reported missing while kayaking near Pembroke, Ont..

The search started Wednesday morning.

Ontario Provincial Police say two people went out in a two-person kayak Tuesday night near the Highway-148 bridge to Allumette Island.

Police earlier said the people were in a kayak and a canoe, but later said it was a two-person kayak that had capsized. The man and the woman were not wearing a life jacket at time the incident happened.

Officers received a call reporting there was a man in distress in the river at 5 a.m. Wednesday morning.

A 34-year-old man was rescued by police, with the assistance of residents in the area.

Much of the search has been focused on a stretch of the Ottawa River between Beckett and Morrison islands, which locals say is a dangerous spot.

A stretch of the Ottawa River between Beckett and Morrison islands, which locals say is a dangerous spot. (Dylan Dyson/CTV News Ottawa)

"It can be a quite snaky and it's very rocky. And it all depends on what the water level is like," said Marc Robillard. "You don't go down there with boats. I mean you could ride a kayak, if you’re an experienced kayaker, I’d imagine."

OPP Emergency Response Team, multiple Marine Units, Surete du Quebec, Pembroke Fire Department and County of Renfrew Paramedics are still searching for the woman.

As of around 3:30 p.m., OPP said the search was continuing with aviation services and the OPP Underwater Search and Recovery Unit has also been brought in.

--With files from CTV News Ottawa's Dylan Dyson

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