Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) have released a video of a Calgary man who credits wearing a lifejacket for saving his life after his kayak overturned in metre-plus waves off of Giants Tomb Island in Georgian Bay.
Last Thursday afternoon, the 27-year-old was about three to four kilometres from shore when he was rescued by the OPP Marine Unit and a Canadian Coast Guard vessel.
The Southern Georgian Bay OPP Marine Unit patrolled for over 87 hours between June 21-30, 2024 and checked 102 vessels and their occupants. Nine operators were charged with lifejacket offences, one person was charged with a liquor-related offences and 52 operators were warned regarding minor violations of the Canadian Shipping Act with three other operators being charges for violations under the same act.
Several vessels with young passengers were checked by officers during their patrols and the mariners were rewarded for wearing their lifejackets by being provided with "I Got Caught Wearing My Lifejacket" T-shirts.
