5 pulled from sinking boat during Pottahawk boat party
CBC News | Posted: July 14, 2019 9:56 PM | Last Updated: July 15, 2019
OPP also responded to barbecue burn and impaired boating incidents at annual Lake Erie event
Provincial police rescued five people from a sinking boat in Lake Erie near Pottahawk Island on Sunday.
The group was rescued just after noon when their boat began to take on water, said Norfolk County OPP Constable Ed Sanchuk.
"It appears that the boat was overloaded with individuals, along with some other items in the boat," Sanchuk said.
"Good thing for them that officers were in the area. They were able to get them out of the water safely and back to shore."
Sanchuk said the investigation is ongoing and charges are pending.
Hundreds of people flock to Long Point and Turkey Point each year for the Pottahawk Pissup, which is billed as Canada's biggest boat party.
Sanchuk said there were about 500 boats in the area on Sunday afternoon, which is quieter than in previous years.
He said OPP have already responded to a few incidents during the party, including one in which a woman was burned by a barbecue. A man was also taken into custody for impaired boating after he blew almost twice the legal limit, Sanchuk said.
He expects police will be even busier as the evening wears on.
"What happens is earlier in the day people will hitchhike to Pottahawk, but they won't have a ride back home, and they'll actually try to swim back — either to Turkey Point or Port Rowan.
Sanchuck said OPP are reminding people to put their safety first and use common sense when they're out on the water.