(PETROLIA, ON) –On Sunday July 19, 2015, at approximately 5:24 p.m., Lambton County Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) received a report of a boater in medical distress in the St. Clair River, just south of Stag Island, St. Clair Township.
Lambton County OPP along with Lambton County Emergency Medical Service (EMS) and the St. Clair Fire Department attended an address on Catalpa Way, Corunna where a female party had been taken to shore after sustaining injuries due to a boating mishap.
The victim was a passenger on a Personal Water Craft (PWC) that was traveling northbound in the St. Clair River, just south of Stag Island. The PWC encountered a wake produced by another vessel causing the victim to fall off of the PWC and into the St. Clair River. The victim was wearing her personal floatation device at the time which kept her afloat until assistance could be rendered.
56 year-old Barbara PEDERSON of St. Clair, Michigan was transported by Lambton EMS to hospital with non-life threatening injuries. No charges will be laid in relation to this incident.
The OPP is reminding Ontario residents and tourists that being well-informed and highly-focused on safe boating practices and laws are sure-fire ways to enjoy a tragedy-free boating season.