Three tragic drowning deaths last weekend are a grim reminder of the power of our local waterways.
On Saturday, Marlene Fox of Big Trout Lake and Sioux Lookout’s Kevin Spade died after jumping off popular cliffs at Silver Harbour Conservation area.
Dozens of miles away, 31-year-old Jordan Desfosses of Peace River, Alta. died when the canoe he was paddling in capsized in the Kaministiquia River.
Earlier this summer 26-year-old Larry Larivee died while swimming at MacKenzie Heights.
Swimming holes and area cliffs have long proved to be an irresistable attraction to people of all ages.
But using them brings with it an inherent danger. First and foremost they’re usually unsupervised. When trouble happens, victims are already behind the eight-ball, with mostly untrained friends to try and save them.
Rocky bottoms are another danger for cliff divers, especially those unfamiliar with the lake bed below.
Add in Mother Nature’s unpredictable ways and there are much safer ways to enjoy Northern Ontario’s waters.
While no number of deaths will stop people from these sorts of activities, hopefully the lesson learned is to use extreme caution. If waters are rough, stay on shore or find a more peaceful place to take a dip.
