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In the wake of a rescue on the water after a boat overturned in Rice Lake, Northumberland OPP is once again calling on residents to prioritize safety gear this summer.
As previously reported, emergency crews responded July 4 at about 5:25 p.m. to a report of an overturned boat on Rice Lake near a marina in the Township of Hamilton.
Northumberland OPP Const. James Clarke tells us more.
The individuals were able to reportedly make it to the shoreline but were unable to climb onto land due to the terrain.
“When the unexpected happens on the water, they can make all the difference,” adds Clarke.
The vessel was subsequently removed from the lake on July 8, 2025.
Every year, Clarke says the lack of improper use of safety equipment is linked to a significant number of deaths and serious injuries on OPP-patrolled roads, waterways, and trails.
Properly worn seatbelts, helmets, life jackets and personal flotation devices go a long way in saving lives and reducing injuries when collisions or other incidents occur, he adds.
People falling overboard and capsized vessels are the leading cause of OPP investigations into boating and paddling fatalities every year, continues Clarke.
“We are committed to keeping people safe on approximately 100,000 square kilometres of waterways, a vast trail network, and over 130,000 kilometres of roadways, including North America’s busiest transportation corridor, Hwy. 401.”
In other words, simple actions like prioritizing safety gear are a big help to emergency crews – but more importantly, help keep people alive and reduce injuries.
Clarke notes that people sometimes ask about the difference between personal flotation devices and life jackets.
“I can say that a Canadian-approved standard life jacket, when worn properly, is designed to turn an unconscious person from face down to face up in the water, allowing them to breathe,” explains Clarke. “A Canadian-approved personal floatation device is designed to keep you afloat in the water and are designed for use in recreational boating, and they are generally smaller, less bulky, and more comfortable than life jackets.”
So, what is the extent of fatalities that OPP investigates linked to victims not wearing their safety gear?
Clarke tells us more.
Meanwhile, another 34 people were killed in off-road vehicle collisions in 2023 – the latest data available – and more than half weren’t wearing helmets, adds Clarke.
When looking at OPP data the last three full years for 2022-24, the number of people who died in OPP-investigated marine incidents rises to 72, and 59 of the boaters and paddlers weren’t reportedly wearing life jackets.
Police have even described life jackets as the most under-utilized piece of safety equipment among road, waterway and trail users year after year. Whether you’re in a boat, canoe, kayak or on a stand-up paddleboard, police are urging residents to prioritize life jackets this summer.
“A life jacket keeps you afloat when the unexpected happens – or you’re thrown from your vessel, or it capsizes – it can save your life when you wear it,” stresses Clarke.
(Written by: Sarah Hyatt)
