Ontario man swimming in Muskoka lake hit by boat, driver charged

A man out for a swim in a lake in Muskoka, Ont., is in critical condition after being hit by a boat over the weekend.

Ontario Provincial Police in Bracebridge and first responders in Muskoka received several calls Saturday that there had been a boat collision on Skeleton Lake in Muskoka Lake Township.

The crash happened near Skelton Lake Road 5 around 5 p.m.

Get breaking National news

For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen.

Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up

By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy.

Callers reported that a boat had collided with a swimmer and people on shore had managed to bring the victim out of the water.

Police say first responders were on scene quickly and the victim, a 22-year-old Georgina man, was rushed to hospital.

He was then later air-lifted to a Toronto-area hospital with life-threatening injuries.

Police located the driver of the vessel, a 39-year-old Niagara Falls man, and charged him with impaired operation causing bodily harm, failure to comply with a demand, failure to stop at an accident resulting in bodily harm and failure to comply with a release order.

The investigation is ongoing and police are asking anyone with information, including footage from home surveillance systems, to call Bracebridge OPP.