Groom Goes Missing During Photoshoot When Bride Finds Him Rescuing Drowning Child

Oct 07, 2022 by apost team

Weddings are a time of joy and celebration, and more importantly, it is a memorable event for everyone present. Some weddings are more unique than others and all of this depends on the tastes and whims of the couple. One couple from Kitchener, Canada, however, proved that a wedding can become unique when you least expect it. 

Clayton and Brittany Cook, a couple from Ontario had just gotten married in September 2017. Still deliriously happy right after their ceremony, they headed to the next stage of their day, taking wedding photos at a picturesque bridge before going on to their reception.

At one point, Brittany turned around to find Clayton gone and wondered what had happened. It turns out that he had seen a potential tragedy unfold right in front of his eyes and was determined to ensure that it does not end up becoming one! As the couple was posing, Clayton had noticed a few children who were playing by the pond. 

He made sure to keep an eye that nothing goes awry, but as soon as he saw that one young boy had fallen in the pond and could not swim, he did not think twice before jumping in to save him. Thankfully, the situation was attended to immediately and the young boy in the pond walked away unharmed.

The incredible moment was captured by Darren Hatt, who heads Hatt Photography, which is a Newfoundland-based company that specializes in creative lifestyle documentary photography according to their Facebook page. Darren spoke exclusively to Apost to give his account of the day. 

Recalling the event, Darren Hatt exclusively told the Apost editorial team in a message that he was taking photographs of the couple after their ceremony and before they headed to their reception. 

"I was shooting photos of the bride alone (pretty much the same photo that was recreated in the painting, which I received from some random person on the internet) when the bride shouted out to Clayton who was assisting the boy already," he said. 

He added, "By the time I swung around (because my back was turned to him) he was already hauling the little guy out of the water." Thankfully, Clayton "wasn't fully submersed in the water (the little boy was)," and "it was just his lower half of his legs and he didn't bother drying anything afterward." 

This did not hinder their photo session at all, though, as Darren added, "We continued on with photos afterwards until we were expected for dinner. I kept photos above the belt afterwards to avoid any wet cloths haha." 

The resulting photos are truly spectacular, and in fact, Darren's photograph of the bride even prompted someone to turn it into a painting! Needless to say, this will be one of the most memorable weddings yet, for the bride and groom, as well as for Darren! As likely surprises no one, the images quickly went viral as so many around the world were touched by what Clayton had done.

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Clayton also told his side of the event to BBC News, "For several minutes these kids were following us, and I was just keeping an eye on them because they were standing close to the water." Recalling the incident, he said, "Then while Brittany was getting her solo shots taken I realized only two were standing on the rock ledge."

He added, "I saw the boy in the water struggling to keep his head up. That's when I jumped down." Although Clayton did not see how he got in the water, he did notice that there were two boys on dry land and not the three he had previously seen. "I saw the boy in the water struggling to keep his head up. That's when I jumped down... I just kind of plucked him out and he was okay," he explained. 

Brittany told CTV News that what Clayton did was just who he was and had so much to do with why she fell in love with him and wanted to spend forever with him, "That's Clay to me. It's something he would just instinctively do." She also added, "It was like fate almost, we were meant to be there."

Thankfully, the boy did not suffer as a result of what happened other than most likely being shaken up some from the experience. This will most certainly be a day to remember for everyone involved. Thanks to Darren Hatt's amazing photography showcasing being in the right place at the right time, thousands of people saw Clayton's actions and appreciated his quick thinking. 

What's the craziest thing that you've ever heard a bride or a groom do within moments of getting married? Do you remember any fun wedding moments you experienced? Let us know your stories and be sure you pass this along to your friends and family!