(Central Huron, ON) A 20 and 21 year old male are both happy to be back on solid ground. On August 31, 2010 at approximately 7:00 pm, the duo decided that they wanted to float in their rubber dingy on the Bayfield River from the Parr Line Bridge just north of Varna down into Bayfield. Armed with a cell phone and a flashlight only, they headed off on their adventure.
When 1:00 am on the 1st of September arrived, the father of one of the males called police for assistance.
Huron OPP officers were innovative with their search techniques. The males were contacted by the OPP Communications Centre. Despite a dying battery on their phone, the males were instructed to call the Communications Centre when the sound of a police siren was loudest to them. A cruiser then patrolled along Mill Road with the siren activated until the males called in.
At that point, officers began to make their way north off Mill Road towards Bayfield River both on foot and on OPP ATV’s. Four hours later, the tired and sheepish men were located. Parents advised that the dingy would soon be “historyâ€.