The family of the man who died Wednesday after a canoe capsized at Ipperwash Beach, a father of four from the nearby Kettle and Stony Point First Nation, is beyond devastated, according to an online fundraiser launched Thursday.
The family of the man who died Wednesday after a capsized canoe at Ipperwash Beach is beyond devastated, according to the organizers of an online fundraiser launched Thursday.
Mike Shawnoo – a father of four from the nearby Kettle and Stony Point First Nation – leaves behind his children and fiancée Hailey, according to a GoFundMe page aimed at helping to pay for a few months of living expenses for them.
“He was a devoted family man, role model and community member of the Chippewas of Kettle and Stony Point First Nation,” the page, launched by his cousin, said.
Lambton provincial police hadn’t identified the victim as of Thursday morning as they wanted to notify the family first. The identity of a second man, taken to hospital in serious but stable condition, hasn’t been released.
Two men were clinging to an overturned green canoe nearly one kilometer from shore when a crew of firefighters from across Lambton County trained in water rescue arrived at the beach shortly after 11 am Wednesday, Lambton Shores fire Chief Lawrence Swift said at the scene.
But only one of the men was still there when the first rescue boat – a civilian’s 18-footer – made it there through the choppy water. A firefighter at the scene said the second man was underwater by the time they reached him.
Police, paramedics, the Canadian and US coast guards, and local boaters were all called to help amid the cool and windy conditions.
“The hardest task was getting out to the overturned canoe. It was out beyond the breakers,” Swift said.
Swift said he wasn’t sure what caused the canoe to capsize.
“It’s a windy day. I don’t know what happened, but obviously if they did get in the surf zone that would be a difficult place for a canoe.”
A Lambton OPP officer inspected the canoe as it sat on the beach.
It was a cold day – about 6 C at the time, with water temperature estimated to be around -3 C.
“The water is very cold,” Swift said.
One nearby neighbor said it’s rare to see people canoeing at this time of year.
There were also fewer people in the area at what’s normally a busy beach to help due to the time of year, Swift noted.