Mississauga Father Died After Inflatable Boat Capsized, But His Daughter Survived

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Tragedy struck the Greater Toronto Area this weekend after a family outing turned deadly.

According to Wellington County Ontario Provincial Police, officers responded to reports of a "possible drowning" at the Grand River Conservation Authority in Rockwood at around 6:20 p.m. on Saturday, June 4, 2022.

Upon investigation, police discovered that bystanders had pulled a 33-year-old father and a 7-year-old daughter from the water after their inflatable boat capsized.

OPP, Guelph Fire Department, and Guelph-Wellington Paramedic Service responded, transporting the male, a resident of Mississauga, to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead.

The extent of injuries to the 7-year-old girl remains unknown. However, officers revealed that she was treated at the scene. She was also wearing a lifejacket at the time of the incident.

The OPP is asking anyone who may have witnessed the incident to contact investigators at 1-888-310-1122.

Reports of drowning increase as the weather gets warmer, with several incidents confirmed over the past couple of weeks.

"Summertime is about taking almost every indoor activity and doing it outside. It also means finding ways to stay cool. While many of us enjoy a good swim, it is an activity that requires many safety considerations," the Government of Canada states.

Between April 2011 and July 2021, there were 918 drowning-related cases reported in selected emergency departments across Canada.

Over a fifth of those drownings occurred in natural bodies of water, including ponds, lakes and rivers. Of all the people hospitalized due to drowning, more than 65% were men.