(TOWNSHIP OF GEORGIAN BLUFFS, ON) – On Saturday, June 6, 2015 at approximately 8:54 a.m., Grey County Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) responded to a report of a capsized canoe in Georgian Bay, approximately 100 meters from shore, on Grey Road 1 in the Township of Georgian Bluffs, in which three people, who appeared to be in distress, were attempting to swim to shore. All three people were wearing life jackets and were able to swim to shore where they were assisted by local residents and emergency services.
The victims, an adult male and two females, from Brampton, Ontario, were taken to hospital where they were treated for shock and mild hypothermia and then released.
Had these people not been wearing lifejackets the outcome may have been worse.
Grey County OPP wish to use this incident as a reminder that wearing a lifejacket or PFD significantly increases survivability should a mishap occur.
Not wearing this equipment continues to be a contributing factor in the majority of boating fatalities on OPP-patrolled waterways.