Though Tony Clement has a high-profile day job as Canada's industry minister, the politician took on a very different role in a high-stakes river rescue near his Ontario home.

Clement, the MP for Parry Sound-Muskoka, was eating dinner at his home in Ontario's Cottage Country when he heard someone at his door.

"A youg woman said 'Help us, dial 911, my friend is in the river drowning" he told CTV News.

Clement quickly ran outside of his home and checked the waters of the Muskoka River, which runs past his home in Port Sydney, about 200 kilometres north of Toronto.

Meanwhile, his wife and father-in-law grabbed a pair of life jackets to help out.

"Further downstream there were rapids where she could have been in grave danger," said Clement, who plunged into the fast-moving river wearing his T-shirt and shorts.

But as Clement swam towards the woman, who is named Jennifer, he also became locked into the river's strong current, making it difficult to reach her.

As Clement swam to the shore, Jennifer began to float on her back and drift downstream. Moments later, Clement's wife and father-in-law were able to pull her onto shore.

The woman was distraught and sobbing after her harrowing experience, Clement said.

"Me and a couple of other people just kept talking to her, putting her clothes around her," Clement said. "We just wanted to keep her conscious and calm."

Close by, a male friend of the woman was lying on his back. He also appeared to have been in trouble.

"He'd been in the water too. We were worried that he was going into shock, so I kind of rushed over to him," said Clement, who gave him some dry clothes and called paramedics.

"It was pretty intense."

lement said that the experience reminded him that everyone needs to stay safe near bodies of water.

"We have many drownings every year throughout Canada," he said. "Know the water you're in. If you're not a strong swimmer, swim close to the shore line, have life jackets available."

With warmer temperatures than usual in many parts of the country this year, drownings have been on the rise. More than 200 people have drowned in Canada since January.

"It's great that people enjoy our lakes and our rivers, we're so blessed to have them, but people have to be careful," Clement said.

With files from CTV Toronto's Natalie Johnson and The Canadian Press