NEWS RELEASE
YORK REGIONAL POLICE
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Officers with the York Regional Police Marine Unit rescued three people who were stranded on Lake Simcoe in an inflatable toy boat.
On Tuesday, June 23, 2020 at just after 6 p.m., Marine Unit officers responded to a 9-1-1 call from three people who had gone out on Lake Simcoe in a small inflatable boat and had been carried away by strong winds. The officers searched the area and eventually located the boat approximately 3.5 km away from shore near Jacksons Point.
All three people were exhausted from trying to paddle to shore, but fortunately no one was seriously harmed.
Officers with the Marine Unit would like to remind our citizens that inflatable boats purchased from large box stores are toys meant for small bodies of water, they are not conducive to the environmental factors produced by Lake Simcoe.
Boaters are also reminded that the water in Lake Simcoe is still cold and prolonged exposure can result in hypothermic conditions. Weather conditions can also change quickly resulting in high winds and large wave conditions. Be sure to have all required safety equipment and tell a friend or family member where you are going, so that if you do not return on time they can call for help.
For more information and safety tips, contact the York Regional Police Marine Unit at 1-866-876-5423, ext. 7321.
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