A 65-year-old Oshawa man drowned in Rice Lake on Wednesday afternoon (July 5).
At around 2 p.m. on Wednesday, Northumberland OPP responded to a call that a man was in distress in the water off the south shore of Rice Lake north of Harwood.
Police, fire services, and paramedics were dispatched to the scene.
According to police, a man was calling for help from the water. Members of the public tried to rescue the man, but he went underwater and never resurfaced.
After emergency services arrived on the scene, they located the 65-year-old Oshawa man in the water and pronounced him dead on the scene.
The office of Ontario’s chief coroner is assisting with the police investigation into the drowning. Police say no foul play is suspected.
The OPP is reminding the public of proactive steps to reduce provincial drowning deaths:
- always swim with a buddy
- know your limits and swimming abilities
- let someone know when and where you’re going for a swim
- test the waters with your feet, don’t dive right in
- don’t swim while under the influence of alcohol or drugs
