For the second time in two years, police are investigating a possible death at a popular diving spot.
Thunder Bay OPP responded to a call for help around 3:30 p.m. Wednesday on McKenzie Heights Road in the Shuniah Township. Police say a 26-year-old-man went swimming with four co-workers in the McKenzie River. The man was reportedly cliff diving from a rock ledge into the river.
Police say when the man dove in he did not resurface.
After an initial search, the OPP Underwater Search and Recovery Unit was called in to assist and is expected to arrive sometime Friday.
The diving spot was the subject of a police investigation two years ago following the tragic death of a 21-year-old Dau Huston.
Huston and a friend were cliff diving in the Mackenzie River.
On Huston’s second dive, he didn’t resurface. His friend saw him floating downstream and unsuccessfully tried to resuscitate him with CPR.
Huston was pronounced dead at 4:10 p.m. Saturday, July 2, 2011.
OPP Staff Sgt. Jim Graham said there’s no way police can check these spots 24/7.
“There’s no way to get to that site without crossing private property but the site itself I believe is Crown land,” he said.
“Unless the ministry puts up a no trespassing legislation for that particular area there’s no legalities. We tell people that they have to be careful where they are. I would say signage and warnings only deter those that are really looking for a safe pass time. Anyone that is looking for a little bit of thrill seeking no amount of signage is going to stop that.”
He added that the family has been notified.
Police have not publicly released the name of the missing man.
