Body recovered from Pigeon Lake near Bobcaygeon

UPDATE:

A body was recovered by OPP divers around 5:45 p.m. Tuesday. A coroner also attended the scene.

The victim has been identified as Todd Simpson, 40, of Clarington, Ont.

Original story:

A search is underway on Pigeon Lake for a missing man who was attempting to help another swimmer on Monday evening.

Trent Lakes firefighters, paramedics and OPP responded to the area on Riverside Drive in the village of Bobcaygeon around 6:30 p.m.

OPP on scene Monday said it appeared the man fell off the house boat and into the lake but didn’t surface.

However, on Tuesday morning, OPP clarified a 40-year-old man was swimming off his houseboat and was trying to help a female in distress.

“The male was attempting to assist a female swimmer who was struggling in the water,” OPP stated. “The female made it back onto the boat but the male did not.”

Two people were taken to hospital after being pulled from the water in the area of Big Island. It’s believed they both were women.

The OPP launched a search using a helicopter.

Neighbours say the houseboat was in the area for a few days, however, police have yet to determine if the individuals are local or visitors to the area.

The Underwater Search and Recovery Unit as well as marine units from the Peterborough County OPP and the City of Kawartha Lakes OPP are assisting with the search. The dive team arrived to Bobcaygeon and were deployed around 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday in the area of Mill Line Road.

More to come.