(SAUGEEN FIRST NATION, ON) – On August 20th, 2014 at 1:00a.m. police were made aware of an overdue male who left from a residence in the 700 block on Southampton Parkway (Bruce Road 13), Saugeen First Nation. The male, 20 years old from Waterloo, was last seen kayaking in Lake Huron at approximately 10:30p.m.
A search was led by the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre (JRC) in Trenton, who coordinated efforts to locate the missing kayaker. The JRC is jointly operated by the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) and Canadian Coast Guard.
A search of Lake Huron in the Sauble/Saugeen area was made by members of the Bruce Peninsula OPP, Bruce Peninsula OPP Marine Unit, Canadian Coast Guard and the RCAF. The search was conducted by several vessels, a helicopter and an airplane.
At 6:56a.m., the male was located in the water by Search and Rescue Technicians (SAR-TEC). He was then transported to hospital in Wiarton for minor injuries.
Investigation revealed that two friends of the missing male were kayaking on Lake Huron. When they failed to return, the missing male went out on his own in an effort to gain contact. The two friends safely returned, but the missing male did not.
While the 20 year old was searching for his friends, his kayak capsized and he entered the water – thereby rendering him unable to return.
