Ontario Provincial Police are warning residents to keep safety top of mind if they're planning to spend Canada Day by the beach after a man was injured diving into Lake Erie.
OPP and the Canadian Coast Guard responded to a report of a man who had injured himself after diving off a boat into the waters of Lake Erie at Turkey Point on Saturday at around 4:38pm.
A 42-year-old man was brought back to shore by the Canadian Coast Guard where he was then taken by air ambulance to a Hamilton hospital to be treated for undetermined injuries.
OPP want to remind everyone about the dangers of jumping into the water from any height. People who jump from heights can't see what they are jumping into. You could hit an underwater object or the waterbed and potentially get seriously injured.
Water levels can also change. If some jumpers do have experience with a particular area and are able to memorize which areas are deepest, there's still a chance they can miscalculate their jump and seriously injure themselves or die.
If the impact of the water knocks you unconscious, you won't be able to swim back to the surface. Police say if rescuers can't find you in time, you will drown.
"We want Norfolk County residents and tourists to enjoy our beautiful beaches, trails and waterways in a safe and responsible manner to ensure their safety and the safety of others," says Norfolk County OPP Detachment Commander Inspector Joseph Varga.
