Man rescued from Cook’s Bay in Innisfil after boat capsized

A 52-year-old man was rescued from Lake Simcoe after his motorboat capsized in the high waves of Cook’s Bay in Innisfil, police say.

According to South Simcoe police, on July 6 at around 12:00 p.m., the man and his 21-year-old son headed out onto Lake Simcoe in an 11-foot aluminum boat. Police say a wave flooded the vessel, causing it to flip over. Both the man and his son ended up in the water.

“They were both able to put their life jackets on,” marine unit officer Const. Steve Black said in a statement.

According to Black, the father stayed with the boat while his son swam to shore for help.

Marine unit officers had already been alerted after someone called 911 to report someone bobbing in the water.

According to police, officers found the man and his overturned boat about 100 metres from shore in three-metre deep water. Officers say the man was brought onboard the police boat and transported to safety.

The man was exhausted from battling the waves and holding onto the boat, police say.

“With the winds, the waves are fairly rough out here. Just make sure you have your life jackets on. These guys put their life jackets on when they fell in the water. They’re lucky that they were able to do that.  Normally it’s very difficult and not something we recommend,” Black said in a statement.

According to Black, and marine unit partner Const. Rob Enwright, whitecaps were seen on Lake Simcoe today due to the high winds.

“It shows how quickly things can go wrong,” Const. Enwright said in the statement. “Waves of up to one-metre capsized this little fishing vessel. Our message is please put on your PFD if you’re heading out on the water.”

Police say the man was checked out by paramedics at Monto-Reno Marina and is doing fine.