Burlington man, 38, drowns in Lake Huron

Police reminded beach goers about water safety after a Burlington man drowned in Lake Huron on Monday.

Ontario Provincial Police from the South Bruce detachment issued a release Tuesday about the incident.

Just before noon on July 12, first responders were called to the main beach in Port Elgin for a possible drowning.

Police say that witnesses reported a paddleboarder in distress after he had fallen from his board in deep water, beyond the marked swimming area.

Onlookers attempted to help the paddleboarder by bringing him to shore. Life-saving measures were performed," police said.

The 38-year-old Burlington man was transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Police say the man will not be identified at the request of the family."

OPP thanked the public for helping the man. They are also warning paddleboarders that life-jackets or personal flotation devices are required.

A solo paddleboarder can be fined $200 for not having an appropriately sized personal flotation device (PFD) or life-jacket accessible. That rule applies to all human-powered pleasurecraft. An additional $100 fine can be levied for each other life-jacket or PFD missing.

Jeremy Kemeny is a Hamilton-based web editor at The Spectator. Reach him via email: jkemeny@thespec.com