80-Year-Old Man Drowns at Port Stanley Beach, OPP Reports

An 80-year-old man from Cambridge tragically drowned at Port Stanley beach on the afternoon of September 29, 2023. The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) reported that the man was pulled unresponsive from Lake Erie around 13:30 local time.

Witnesses noticed the man in distress and promptly called emergency services. Provincial Constable Jeff Beaumaster stated that bystanders assisted in pulling him from the water and administered cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Despite their efforts, the man was pronounced dead at a nearby hospital shortly afterward.

The OPP expressed gratitude to those who rushed to aid during the incident. In a public statement, they emphasized that drowning incidents often arise from multiple factors, such as inadequate swimming skills, swimming alone, lack of life jackets, impaired boating, or insufficient adult supervision of children in the water.

Drowning incidents have been a concerning trend this summer in Southwestern Ontario. So far, there have been at least six reported water-related fatalities and two near-drowning incidents.

Recent Water-Related Incidents in Southwestern Ontario

On July 5, a 65-year-old man was rescued from Lake Erie in Port Dover by a 12-year-old family member after he experienced a medical episode while swimming. The young relative recognized the danger and brought him back to shore, where a bystander used CPR to revive him.

A more tragic event occurred on July 20, when a 13-year-old girl from Hamilton drowned at the Wildwood Conservation Area near St. Marys. After an hour-long search, her body was discovered in a designated swimming area. Efforts to revive her were unsuccessful.

Earlier in the summer, on June 30, an 18-year-old from London lost his life while attempting to save his 12-year-old brother from drifting away in an inflatable at Ipperwash beach. On June 29, a 44-year-old man from Lambton Shores died in hospital after diving into shallow water from a boat near the same beach.

On June 23, a 17-year-old girl drowned in the Thames River after jumping from a bridge in Chatham. While a 15-year-old girl was rescued, the older girl did not resurface. On the same day, a six-year-old boy was saved from Lake Huron after drifting away on an inflatable ring near Black’s Point Beach.

On June 22, a 35-year-old man from Woodstock drowned while trying to save his daughter at Port Burwell Provincial Park. Last summer, the region recorded a total of 13 water-related fatalities.

The OPP continues to stress the importance of water safety and encourages individuals to take precautions when swimming or engaging in water activities. Awareness of the risks involved can significantly reduce the likelihood of tragic incidents.