A tragic boating incident on the Otonabee River near Peterborough has resulted in impaired operation charges against a 28-year-old Whitchurch-Stouffville resident after a passenger drowned Tuesday afternoon.
Officers from the Peterborough County detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP), along with EMS and Fire services, responded to an emergency call on June 30 just after 2:30 p.m. regarding a man who had fallen off a boat and failed to resurface.
According to police, a witness traveling east on the river reported that another boat passed by carrying four individuals. During that encounter, one person fell into the water. The caller noted that the missing person was not wearing a life jacket at the time and quickly disappeared beneath the surface.
Emergency responders arrived quickly at the scene, and a nearby OPP marine unit made its way to the location by water. Officers made contact with the three remaining individuals still on the boat near where the person entered the water. Those individuals were transported to shore while search efforts commenced for the missing passenger.
Jayatharssan Yogaratnam, identified as the operator of the boat, was arrested and charged with operation causing death and operation while impaired - blood alcohol concentration (80 plus). The accused was held for bail.
The search continued for several hours as the OPP underwater search and recovery unit was called to the scene. Shortly before 9 p.m., divers located the body of the victim. A 39-year-old male from Oshawa was pronounced deceased at the scene.
This heartbreaking incident serves as a stark reminder of the critical importance of water safety, particularly the use of life jackets while boating. As our community enjoys summer activities on local waterways, ensuring every passenger wears proper flotation devices can mean the difference between life and death.
The investigation into this fatal incident remains ongoing as authorities work to piece together the full circumstances surrounding the drowning.
