An 81-year-old Whitby man has died following an incident at Kawartha Highlands Signature Park on Friday. Peterborough County OPP, EMS, and Fire were called to the park around 1:45pm after reports of a possible drowning.
According to witnesses, two friends were drifting down the river on tubes when one person got off their tube in chest-deep water without wearing a life jacket. The second person, who had moved closer to shore, looked back to see that the first person was missing. They located the empty tube but were unable to find their friend.
The missing man was later discovered face down in the water. He was pronounced dead at the scene by emergency responders.
The OPP continues to focus on boater education, marine patrols, and enforcing safety laws across over 110,000 square kilometers of Ontario’s waterways, adding that since capsized vessels and falling overboard are major causes of boating deaths, wearing lifejackets or personal flotation devices (PFDs) could greatly improve safety for boaters, personal watercraft users, and paddlers.
For boating safety information, Transport Canada’s Safe Boating Guide is available online.
(Written by: Scott Arnold)
