Police have recovered the body of a 39-year-old North York man who slipped under the water after the family’s canoe capsized on a lake in Minden Hills.
On Saturday (September 12), Haliburton Highlands OPP and emergency crews were called to assist with a capsized canoe on Moore Lake, about 17 kilometres south of Minden.
A family of four — including a man, woman, and two young children — has been paddling on the lake when their canoe capsized.
Boaters in the area came to the family’s assistance, pulling the woman and the two children out of the water. The man had already slipped under the water before he could be rescued.
The OPP’s helicopter and Underwater Search and Recovery Unit assisted in searching the lake for the missing man. Along with members of the Minden Hills Fire Department, they located and recovered the body of the missing man shortly after 6 p.m. on Saturday.
Investigators are citing absence of safety equipment as a significant contributing factor in this tragedy.
The OPP encourages all Ontarians to take personal responsibility for ensuring water safety for themselves and their children. It is important for everyone to be aware of proper boating and swimming practices, including wearing a lifejacket or PFD, learning how to swim, and not drinking or using drugs when swimming or operating a vessel.
This story has been updated to correct information previously provided by the police, who had stated the man who drowned had passed one of his children to rescuers before slipping under the water. Those involved in the rescue and witnesses have stated the man had already slipped under the water when the rest of the family was rescued and police have issued a clarification.
