A cottage visit turned deadly on the weekend on Burnt River. A 56-year-old man drowned after he and a companion went swimming in the river on Saturday evening, say Ontario Provincial Police who responded to the incident.
Police say neither person was wearing a lifejacket at the time when they got caught in moving water and struggled with the current. A person in a nearby boat rescued his companion, but the man was missing for 10-15 minutes before he was taken from the water and transported to the hospital where he was later declared dead.
The man has been identified as Kingston Ferdinands, 56, of Scarborough. OPP is reminding the public about best practices to prevent drowning.
- always swim with a buddy
- let someone know when and where you’re going for a swim
- test the waters with your feet, don’t dive right in
- don’t swim while under the influence of alcohol/drugs