Horse rescued by Ottawa firefighters from collapsed shelter dies

Ottawa firefighters were called to the Vars area after a horse shelter collapsed during a thunderstorm April 29, 2025. (Ottawa Fire Services/supplied)

A horse that was rescued by Ottawa firefighters after its shelter collapsed in heavy winds Tuesday afternoon has died, Ottawa Fire Services says.

Spokesperson Nick DeFazio says a 9-1-1 caller from Vars reported their horse shelter on Russell Road had collapsed in the wind at around 4:22 p.m. A horse that was in the shelter was trapped and injured.

Firefighters arrived on scene alongside a veterinarian who sedated the horse to allow it to be safely removed from the collapsed shelter.

“Firefighters used lift bags and hydraulic jacks to lift the structure up and placed cribbing underneath to prevent it from falling back on the horse. Firefighters then put anchor straps on the sedated horse’s legs to pull it out from underneath the structure,” DeFazio said.

The horse was safely removed from the structure by 5:10 p.m. and handed over to the care of its owner and the veterinarian.

DeFazio told CTV News the horse died of its injuries Wednesday morning.