Georgian Bay showed who was boss.
For a 15-year-old on a boogie board off a Tiny Township beach on Thursday afternoon, it turned into a frightening ordeal as strong currents began pushing him farther from shore.
OPP say a family member entered the water in an attempt to help, but was unable to reach him due to the powerful currents and rough conditions.
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First responders were alerted around 5 p.m., and while they were heading to the shoreline, the teen safely made it back to shore.
"The OPP is using this incident as a reminder that Georgian Bay's waters can quickly become dangerous, even for strong and experienced swimmers. High winds, rough waves, changing weather conditions, strong currents and undertows can create significant hazards and rapidly carry swimmers and recreational water users away from shore," police said in a news release on Friday.
The OPP encourages residents and visitors to take the following precautions when enjoying Ontario's waterways:
• Always wear a properly fitted and approved life jacket or personal flotation device (PFD).
• Check weather, wind and water conditions before entering the water.
• Avoid entering the water when waves and currents are strong.
• Never rely solely on swimming ability, flotation toys or boogie boards.
• Keep children and youth under close supervision near the water.
• Swim in supervised areas whenever possible and never swim alone.
"While this incident ended safely, the outcome could have been very different," said Inspector Russell Elliott, Detachment Commander, Southern Georgian Bay OPP. "Georgian Bay is a beautiful destination, but its conditions can change quickly. Wearing a life jacket and being aware of current water conditions can save lives."
