Last Sunday, around 7 p.m., the Ontario Provincial Police recovered the body of a 12-year-old boy from Georgian Bay.
Earlier in the day, the boy had been swimming with his family at Huronia Park near Penetanguishene, Ont. Despite being within view of an adult, the boy disappeared beneath the surface of the water. When he didn’t resurface, emergency services were called.
Photo courtesy the OPP
Emergency services responded to the call within four minutes. The park was closed to the public as the OPP, its marine unit, and the Penetanguishene fire department commenced a search for the boy. The OPP also called in a helicopter to assist with the search.
Despite warm temperatures and calm water, the OPP said it can still be difficult, even in ideal conditions, to locate a person underwater as the bottom of the lake tends to be murky.
After seven hours, the OPP’s underwater search and rescue team located the boy’s body. Paramedics were unable to resuscitate the boy and pronounced him dead on scene. The Office of the Chief Coroner has taken over the investigation to determine the exact cause of death.
Photo courtesy the OPP
The local community has set up a GoFundMe page to support the boy’s family and help with funeral expenses. So far, $5,500 has been donated.
To keep kids safe while swimming, Health Canada advises careful supervision anytime they’re near the water. A child can disappear under the water within seconds. Younger children should wear lifejackets while swimming and be within arms’ reach—although, this doesn’t negate the need for careful supervision. “Swimming aids can give a false sense of security, which could result in a lack of proper supervision,” says Health Canada.
The government body also suggests swimming at beaches and pools supervised by a lifeguard, and enrolling your kids in swimming and water safety programs so that they know what to do in an emergency.
As a parent, it can’t hurt to sign up for a course on first aid training and basic lifesaving skills.
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