OPP Marine Unit (BlackburnNews.com file photo)OPP Marine Unit (BlackburnNews.com file photo)
Sarnia

OPP Marine Unit On Long Weekend Patrol

The OPP's Marine Units will hit the water this weekend in support of Safe Boating Awareness Week.

There's already been eight boating deaths on OPP patrolled waterways this year, almost three times as many as last year at this time.

None of the victims were wearing a personal flotation device or lifejacket. OPP investigations also revealed that alcohol was likely a factor in all but one of the six incidents. Six victims were kayaking or canoeing and fell overboard or drowned after capsizing. The two other incidents involved a small overloaded outboard that swamped and an operator falling off a personal water craft. Seven of the people who died were between the age of 21 and 28 years of age.

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Sarnia City Hall. October, 2023 Blackburn Media photo by Melanie Irwin

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