York Regional Police are sending a message of caution after they rescued three novice boaters who could not swim from the waters of Lake Simcoe last month.
Posted Jul 06, 2021, 05:41AM EDT
York Regional Police are sending a message of caution after they rescued three novice boaters who could not swim from the waters of Lake Simcoe last month.
Police received a 9-1-1 call from a boater in distress on June 24, shortly after 1:15 p.m.
They say three people had rented a canoe and went out on Lake Simcoe and the wind carried them away from the shore. They were unable to paddle back in and could not swim, so panicked and called 9-1-1.
On the call, a woman can be heard telling the dispatcher it is their first time canoeing and her friend is having a panic and asthma attack.
Officers from the marine rescue unit say the boaters were unable to say exactly where they were, which made it difficult to find them. The boaters had a whistle and began blowing it so that officers could zero in on their location. They were eventually found and three women were taken to shore with no injuries.
Police are reminding people to take the following precautions before heading out on the water:
- Bring a cell phone
- Familiarize yourself with the GPS on your phone or install an app that can help determine your location – emergency crews can find you faster if you are able to tell them your exact location
- Remember that weather conditions can change quickly resulting in high winds and large waves
- Always wear a well-fitted life jacket
- Plan your route and tell someone where you are going and when you expect to be back.
