Searching for missing boater near Bluffers Park now a recovery operation: police

Toronto police say a search in Lake Ontario for a missing boater who family identified as a DJ is now officially a recovery operation.

Sgt. Glenn Edward of the Toronto Police Marine Unit says officers are no longer treating the search for the 27-year-old man as a rescue effort.

Police began searching Lake Ontario on Sunday evening after receiving reports that a man had fallen off a boat in the city’s east end.

Police have not officially released his name, but a man who says he is the boater’s uncle has identified him as Partheepan Subramanium.

The uncle says his nephew was an IT professional from Sri Lanka who also performed as DJ Brownsoul on the side.

Edward says the waters were slightly choppy at the time of the incident, but says there was no sign of extreme weather at the time.

READ MORE: As boating season approaches, OPP are urging safety first

He says an investigation is ongoing, but believes the incident is being treated as a tragic accident.

“It’s awful. It’s a terrible accident we think at this point,” Edward said in a telephone interview.

“We’re doing everything we can to try and find him.”

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The marine unit is collaborating with the Canadian Coast Guard on the recovery effort.