Officers with the York Regional Police Marine Unit are reminding boaters to always be aware of their location and take all safety precautions after three people in a canoe were rescued on Lake Simcoe.
On June 24, 2021, shortly after 1:15 p.m., York Regional Police received a 9-1-1 call from a boater in distress. Officers learned that three people rented a canoe and went out on Lake Simcoe. The wind carried them away from shore and they were unable to paddle back in. They could not swim and had begun to panic and called 9-1-1. They were unable to determine their location making it difficult for Marine Unit officers to find them. When officers successfully located the boat, the three women were taken to shore and fortunately there were no injuries.
A video of the call to 9-1-1 can be found here: https://youtu.be/U9tVn8jHHks
Officers with the Marine Unit would like to remind anyone heading out on the water that help can find you faster if you are able to relay your exact location to emergency call takers. Learn to familiarize yourself with the GPS on your phone or consider installing an app that can assist you with determining your location.
Remember that weather conditions can change quickly on Lake Simcoe resulting in high winds and large waves. Always wear a properly-fitted life jacket, bring a cell phone, plan your route and tell someone where you’re going and what time you expect to be back.