Sunday, May 25, 2008

Manitoulin OPP Locate And Recover Missing Boaters

(Lake Manitou, Manitoulin Island, Ont.) On Thursday evening on May 22, 2008 at about 5PM Manitoulin OPP received information about two missing boaters who were last observed going out for a boat ride on Lake Manitou from Wee Point Resort, on Manitoulin Island. Police were contacted at 6:44 PM, May 22, 2008 when their boat was found adrift and unoccupied on the lake. An immediate search was commenced, conducted by the Manitoulin OPP marine unit, assisted by UCCM Police Service marine officers, OPP helicopter, and a ground search was conducted by members of the OPP Emergency Response Unit.

After almost three days of an intensive search with the OPP Underwater Search and Recovery Unit and members of the Manitoulin OPP Marine Unit on Saturday Morning the 24th May 2008 the bodies of two people have been recovered from the waters of Lake Manitou, near Wee Point Resort approximately 5 miles west of Manitowaning Ontario. Through investigation it was learned that life jackets were not used.

The two people have been identified as American citizens Harpal CHOHAN age 48 of 1760 Waltham Road, Columbus, Ohio USA and Russ MORRISON age 44 of 691 Woodmark Run, Gahann, Ohio USA.

A post mortems examination will be conducted in Sudbury on Monday the 26th May 2008 to determine the exact cause of death.