Port Stanley visitors and residents can expect to see an increased police presence in the Lake Erie village as the search continues for a London boater missing for three days now.
The 64-year-old London man, whom police have not publicly identified, had been a passenger on a 7.5-metre sailboat on Thursday afternoon, the OPP have said. The boat anchored so the passenger could go swimming, said OPP spokesperson Const. Brett Phair.
Emergency crews responded about 3:45 pm Thursday after the operator of the sailboat reported the swimmer missing in the lake near Port Stanley.
“This morning I am out with the marine units in Port Stanley assisting the underwater search and rescue unit in efforts to locate the missing party,” Phair said Sunday in a video posted to X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter.
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Police search Lake Erie for missing Londoner who went for swim from boat
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Police indicate no one missing after empty inflatable found in Lake Erie
While police have not released the missing man’s name, his family has been notified, Phair said.
“Our search efforts continue,” he said. “Our condolences go out to the family and we are making every effort to try to locate the missing party.”
On Friday, OPP vessels were searching the lake three to six kilometers out from the shore.
Phair stressed the importance of always wearing lifejackets when out on the water. “They save lives, because you never know how quickly conditions can arise and it’s crucial that you have all your safety equipment available.”