NEWS RELEASE
NIAGARA REGIONAL POLICE SERVICE
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On Aug. 5, 2021, at approximately 5:49 p.m., the Niagara Regional Police Service (NRPS) received a 911 call from a member of the public who was fishing on a boat in Lake Ontario. The member of the public called to report having found a body in the water.
Vessels from the Canadian Coast Guard and the NRPS Marine Unit responded to the location approximately 10 kms. north of Niagara on the Lake between the Welland Canal and the Niagara River.
The body of a male was recovered and transported to a boat dock in Niagara on the Lake by the NRPS Marine Unit.
Detectives from the 2 District - Niagara Falls detective office, the NRPS Forensic Services Unit and the Coroner attended.
The body was sent to the Centre of Forensic Sciences in Toronto, for a postmortem and positive identification.
The NRPS can now confirm that the body recovered on Aug. 5, 2021, has been identified as the missing 27-year-old man from Toronto.
Detectives have found no evidence to support foul play in the drowning deaths of the 22-year-old woman and the 27-year-old man.
The identities of the deceased man and woman is not being released at this time.
Detectives continue to work with the office of the Coroner on this matter. Anyone with information can contact 905-688-4111, 1022200.
Update #1 – Aug. 3, 2021
On Aug. 2, 2021 members of the Niagara Regional Police Service Marine Unit, with assistance from the Niagara Parks Police Service High Angle River Team (HART), continued to search the Niagara River and adjacent shoreline for the missing male. Search efforts were supported by Niagara Helicopters and Niagara Jet Boats.
Throughout the day (Aug. 3, 2021), the NRPS Marine Unit will remain in the area, on the water conducting patrols.
The identity of the deceased 22-year-old female of Toronto, and missing 27-year-old male of Toronto, is not being released at this time.
The incident remains under investigation by 2 District detectives. Anyone with information is asked to call 905-688-4111, extension #1022200
Original Release – Aug. 1, 2021
On Aug. 1, 2021, at approximately 5:00PM emergency services responded to the Niagara Glen in the area of the Niagara Parkway near Whirlpool Road. 911 calls had been received for reports of persons in distress in the water of the Niagara River. This area of the river has significant currents.
Uniform officers from 2 District of the Niagara Regional Police Service (NRPS) and the Niagara Parks Police (NPP) responded to the area. Officers located a female in her 20s from Toronto in critical condition in the water. Officers pulled her from the water and commenced resuscitative efforts.
With the assistance of the Niagara Jet Boats the female was transported to the docks in Queenston. Niagara Emergency Medical Service paramedics and Niagara Falls Fire Services personnel continued resuscitative efforts and the female was transported to a local hospital. The female was later pronounced deceased in the hospital.
Further investigation by officers determined that a group of friends from the Greater Toronto Area had gone for a hike on the trails in the gorge along the Niagara River. The deceased female had entered the water with a male in his 20s also from Toronto. When the female began having trouble in the current the male attempted to assist her. He disappeared in the current.
Officers from the NPP HART Team, the NRPS Marine Unit, the United States Coast Guard, the Canadian Coast Guard and Niagara Jet Boats conducted vessel based and shoreline searches for the male. A helicopter from the Erie County Sheriff also searched the area. The male has not been located and remains missing. The NRPS Marine Unit will continue with a shoreline search in the morning.
The investigation into the circumstance of the incident remains under investigation by 2 District detectives. Anyone who may have information about this incident are asked to call 905-688-4111, 1022200.
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