NEWS RELEASE
NIAGARA REGIONAL POLICE SERVICE
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On Aug. 1, 2021, at approximately 5 p.m. 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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