Drowning at North Beach Sunday
Administrator | Jul 18, 2011 | Comments 4
An autopsy conducted today determined Visu Kanthasamy Vimalan, 48, of Scarborough, died Sunday as a result drowning at North Beach Provincial Park, south of Consecon.
Prince Edward County OPP said the man’s lifeless body was pulled from the water by family members at about 5 p.m. Sunday, July 17.
Const. Kim Guthrie reports the deceased and his family were were visiting the beach for the day when he entered the water for a swim and was observed motionless a short time later.
Cautionary red flags were flying on the beach due to the high winds and waves at the time, warning visitors that swimming was not advised due to the strong undertow in the water.
Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources Undertow Hazards flag system indicates a red flag warning is posted when waves are higher than two feet, (undertow) is strong, dragging and pulling off shore even for strong swimmers and swimming is not advised. The cautionary flags on the beach were changed from yellow to red at 3 pm yesterday.
Filed Under: Local News
I think Lifeguards are not the answer, perhaps knowing your skill as a swimmer and staying away from danger. Red flags are posted as a danger sign. If someone goes in they are responsible for their own fate. To put lifeguards on the beach will not solve this problem. As a society we also need to teach our children and adults how to swim.
I go to North Beach all the time and there is a strong undertow when waves are high. That is why they fly a red flag. It is not even safe for a strong swimmer or a lifeguard to enter the water. All a lifeguard could have done that day was blow a whistle and tell him not to go into the water. Some people would just go in anyhow and endanger the lifeguards when they try to save them. Common sense is needed.
Not long ago people were complaining about the price of a pass for Ontario Parks. What do you think would happen to that price if lifeguards were hired?
“FLAGS DO NOT SAVE LIVES LIFEGUARDS DO”
ROYAL LIFESAVING SOCIETY RESEARCH STATES… WHERE THERE IS A TRAINED lIFEGUARD AT A BEACH OR POOL THAT LESS THAN 1% OF DROWNINGS OCCUR