Body of missing boater found near Manitoulin Island

OPP NEWS RELEASE

************************* Manitoulin OPP recover body of missing boater

OPP divers recover body from North Channel

HONORA BAY, ON - The OPP Underwater Search & Recovery Unit have located the body of a missing boater in the waters of the North Channel.

On Sunday, July 12, 2009, at 3:03 p.m., Manitoulin OPP received a call from family members who advised a 42-year- old male who was operating a personal watercraft (jet ski) went missing in the waters of the North Channel near Honora Bay approximately 12 kilometres west of Little Current.

The male and his family were visiting relatives on Manitoulin Island when he decided to go for a ride on a personal watercraft on Sunday afternoon.

He was a about a kilometre from shore when a mishap occurred and he entered the water.

Family members and cottage owners attempted to locate the male with negative results.

Manitoulin OPP officers were dispatched to the scene along with the Manitoulin OPP Marine Unit vessel.

A search was conducted with the assistance of the UCCM Tribal Police vessel, and the Ministry of Natural Resources vessel.

The OPP helicopter unit was dispatched and conducted an aerial search along with the Coast Guard helicopter from the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre.

Members of the OPP Emergency Response Team and the North Shore Search and Rescue Team conducted a shore line search of the area.

The OPP Underwater Search & Recovery Unit were dispatched to attend from their base in Orillia, Ontario.

The search resumed on Monday, July 13 and continued on Tuesday July 14, 2009, when at 11:30 a.m. members of the OPP Underwater Search and Recovery Unit located the body of the missing boater in the waters of Honora Bay area in the North Channel.

The local coroner has ordered a post-mortem examination on Wednesday, July 15, 2009, in Sudbury to determine the exact cause of death.

The deceased has been identified as Ferdinand Lizares, age 42, of 1 Seppala Road, Lively, Ontario.

This incident is being investigated by members of the Manitoulin OPP.

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