Burlington family saved from racing creek

Nicky Ramsay was watching TV, wondering what to make for dinner, when her daughter Bailey burst into the room.

Her children, 14-year-old Abbie and eight-year-old Leif had been swept away by the swollen waters of nearby Tuck Creek in Burlington.

"I just threw off my shoes and started running," said Ramsay, 39. "I thought they were gone."

Leif and his stepsisters had been playing in the creek Saturday when Leif dropped his flip-flop into the water. But the creek -- which is usually ankle-deep -- had swollen and was nearly two metres deep because of heavy rain.

When Leif tried to grab his shoe, the current took hold and swept him downstream. Abbie jumped in after him and was also carried away. Eleven-year-old Bailey ran to her mom for help.

"She was pretty frantic," Ramsay said.

Ramsay ran down to the creek, immediately got into the water and was also swept downstream. She had several moments when she struggled to keep her head above water as she searched for her children.