Drowning toll in southwestern Ontario reaches 12 this summer

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Some experts say the high number of drownings in southwestern Ontario this summer highlights the need for better water safety messaging.

Two people drowned in Lake Erie near Leamington and Turkey Point over the weekend, bringing the total number of drowning deaths in Lake Erie alone this summer to four. At least eight other people have drowned in lakes and rivers in the region this season.

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Police found the body of a 46-year-old swimmer near Leamington Pier in Ely on Monday after he went missing the day before and after another man drowned in the same area in June.

Ontario Provincial Police say the body of a kayaker was found two days ago in the lake, half a kilometre from Turkey Point. Police have not released the man’s identity, but he is described as being in his 50s.

Two people, including a kayaker, have drowned this summer in Lake Huron, as have deaths in Lake St. Clair, the Detroit River, the Grand River and London’s storm-swollen Thames, where a seven-year-old girl died earlier this month after being swept away by fast-moving waters.

Regional water conservation authorities regularly issue warnings after storms, reminding people to avoid rising rivers and their banks, including the one that hit the London area last month that killed seven-year-old Anna Bielli.

Likewise, public beaches popular with swimmers along the region’s Great Lakes are often labeled as unsafe.

Even so, there may be unseen dangers, said Stephanie Baccarat of the Ontario Lifesaving Society.

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“Large lakes actually have riptides that people don’t realize,” Bacalar said. “We really need people to be aware of what’s going on in these open waters.”

Last month, a tragedy occurred in Port Stanley when 14-year-old Omer Butz jumped into the water near the Lake Erie village’s main beach with his brother but was swept under by a wave and never resurfaced. The boy’s father tried to save his two sons but was unsuccessful, and lifeguards rescued him and his brother.

The next day, rescuers pulled four people from the lake at the same Stanley beach: a 12-year-old and a 15-year-old who fell into the water, and two adults who tried to help the two boys, who were struggling in the surf.

In another thrilling incident, a 42-year-old man lost his life on August 1 after he became separated from a group of other crew members while driving a personal jet ski near Lake Erie. The next day, he was found safe and sound near Port Glasgow, more than 20 kilometers away. Police noted that the group was wearing safety equipment, and the man who became separated from the group stayed on his jet ski.

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Bacalar said the most effective way to prevent drowning in the absence of specific water warning signs is to wear a life jacket in open water.

“We do encourage people to wear life jackets because you never know when you’re going to get caught in a current that’s going to sweep you away,” she said. “Obviously, we would expect that in areas where there’s open water, owners and operators would post signs to educate the public on whether it’s safe to swim, but it’s not mandatory.”

One of the challenges in increasing awareness of water hazards is getting this information to newcomers, as they may not know where or how to access the information.

The victims of the London and Port Stanley drownings were from families who had relatively recently moved to the area or country.

Eleanor Heagy, a spokeswoman for the Upper Thames Conservation Authority, said promoting water safety was an “ongoing challenge”.

The London-based agency, which oversees water issues across a vast area of ​​17 Thames River boroughs, regularly issues alerts and warnings when storms and flooding make waterways dangerous. But Higgie said it was difficult to measure the coverage and effectiveness of those warnings, and community cooperation was key.

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One step to help get the message across, she said, is identifying areas with higher numbers of new Canadians with young children who may not be aware of the dangers or know how to get information about them.

“We hope we never hear of a horrific incident like that (in London) again,” she said of the death of seven-year-old Anna Bielli.

Anna’s mother, Karen Fermill, said she took her three children to a shallow sandy area on the banks of the Thames near the North London sports field to cool their feet after a day of playing in the park.

She said when it was time to leave, she was facing away from her younger children when she realized her oldest child — who had apparently fallen into the river — was struggling in the water. She said she desperately tried to reach Anna but was unable to do so and was left to scream for help, calling 911 on a wet cellphone as her daughter was swept away.

Three days later, after a massive search, the girl’s body was found in a nearby river. Western Universityaway from where she jumped into the river.

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Lifesaving societies and conservation agencies are committed to preventing water deaths and injuries through training programs.

Bakala said the association’s programs are usually aimed at school-age children, but anyone can sign up and the courses can continue into adulthood. She said knowing how to survive an unexpected fall into deep water can prevent drowning, which usually occurs 15 meters from safety.

“We know that some people have barriers to participation, such as financial barriers. Most municipalities and most affiliates have subsidized programs. We do encourage people to seek out those programs and enroll their children in classes,” Bacala said.

– With reporting by Free Press reporter Beatriz Baleeiro, Brantford Expositor and Windsor Star

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