Five people had to be rescued from Lake Erie after their boat capsized during the annual Pottahawk boat party on Sunday.
Norfolk OPP said the boat sank around noon. The vessel began taking on water because it was overloaded with people and had a heavy cooler strapped to the front.
"People always ask why are the police out here. Well, we just rescued five people, that is why we are out here. We got them safely to shore," said Constable Ed Sanchuk.
A 46-year-old boat operator from Port Colborne has been charged in relation to the incident.
Held on the second Sunday in July, the booze-fueled event on Pottahawk Point between Turkey Point and Long Point draws hundreds of boats each year. This year saw roughly 500 boats in attendance. That is considerably fewer than in past years when around 2,000 boats have been on hand for the event.
High water that prevented people from getting their boats out of boathouses is partly to blame for the decline in numbers.
The OPP Marine Unit kept watch over the celebrations and inspected boats coming into the area to make sure they had the required safety equipment on board.
At least one boater was arrested for impaired boating after he blew nearly twice the legal limit, police said. A woman was also treated for burns from a barbecue.
