Monday, July 13, 2009

MANITOULIN OPP SEARCHING FOR MISSING BOATER

CO-ORDINATED SEARCH EFFORTS PRESENTLY UNDERWAY FOR MALE ON PERSONAL WATERCRAFT

(Honora Bay, Ont.) – On Sunday 12 July 09 at 3:03 pm Manitoulin O.P.P. received a call from family members who advised a 42 year old male who was operating a personal watercraft (Jet ski) went missing in the waters of the North Channel near Honora Bay approximately 12 kilometres west of Little Current.

The male and his family were visiting relatives on Manitoulin Island when he decided to go for a ride on a personal watercraft on Sunday afternoon. He was a about a kilometre from shore when a mishap occurred and he entered the water. Family members and cottage owners attempted to locate the male with negative results.

Manitoulin OPP officers were dispatched to the scene along with the Manitoulin OPP Marine Unit vessel. A search is being conducted with the assistance of the UCCM Tribal Police vessel, and the Ministry of Natural Resources vessel. The OPP helicopter Unit was dispatched and conducted an aerial search along with the Coast Guard helicopter from the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre. Members of the OPP Emergency Response Team and the North Shore Search and Rescue Team are presently conducting a shore line search of the area.

The OPP Underwater Search and Recovery Unit have been dispatched to attend the area and will be conducting a search starting tomorrow.

Further details will be released as they become available