A community is in mourning after a former police chief from Kenora, Ont., was killed during a kayaking trip to Manitoba.
Dan Jorgensen, 59, was fulfilling a lifelong dream to kayak from his town to Gimli, Man., and skydive with friends for his 60th birthday.
“Unfortunately he didn’t make it,” Kenora Mayor, David Canfield said.
On May 12 around 8:20 p.m., Jorgensen’s kayak overturned and he drown near Nutimik Lake, about 130 kilometres east of Winnipeg. He was wearing a life jacket.
The former police chief retired years ago and was still very active and into outdoor activities, Canfield said.
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On May 8, Jorgensen set off on the 12 day kayak trip from his home near Kenora and started paddling along the Winnipeg River, his brother David Jorgensen posted on Facebook.
His goal was to kayak to Gimli by May 19 and then walk the thefive kilometres to the airport in order to skydive.
“Alas, sometime yesterday evening, while attempting to run Sturgeon Falls, at the mouth of Nutimik Lake, his kayak overturned,” his brother posted.
There were hikers close by who witnessed it, but were too far away to help.
“He was not able to right the watercraft. Dan is gone,.”
Brian Forbes, who is a good friend of Jorgensen, said the two have skydived together 150 times.
“He was very active. He was also a scuba diver, rock climber, ice climber and drove a motorcycle,” he said.
Jorgensen was also active in his community, volunteering to help the less fortune and raising awareness on mental health issues.
“He’s one of the greatest guys I have ever met,” Forbes said.