Global News has confirmed that Alexander Ottley, 9, was swept into Lake Erie on Saturday afternoon.
Ontario Provincial Police Const. Rod Leclair told Global News that underwater teams were hoping to resume their search in the lake Tuesday, however, it was called off just before 10 a.m. due to rough waters. The shoreline search continues.
“We will constantly re-assess conditions and if they do improve we will go into the water,” said LeClair.
Investigators believe three children approached an “ice edge” at Peacock Point, about 60 kilometres south of Hamilton, when two of them were hit by a wave around 4:30 p.m. Saturday.
An eight-year-old boy was rescued after a third child, a 10-year-old girl, flagged down a man and woman, said police.
The couple was able to pull the eight-year-old from the water’s edge. However, Ottley did not resurface, according to investigators.
OPP and the U.S. Coast Guard searched the area Saturday evening, but police said their underwater search and rescue unit was not able to go into the water due to deteriorating conditions.
Police said the underwater search unit returned to the scene Sunday morning and while poor conditions still prevented them from going in the water, officers resumed their above-water search.
On Monday, the OPP underwater search and recovery unit was able to continue recovery efforts off Peacock Point.
“Calmer winds and less ice buildup, allowing for closer access to the ice edge from the shoreline,” said LeClair.
OPP said the search turned up “negative results.”
Global News has reached out to the family of Ottley who confirmed the 9-year-old was, in fact, the boy OPP search teams were looking for.
“At this time the family is overwhelmed and would rather not speak on camera. I believe once he is found they will be ready to make a statement,” said Rebecca Brunke who says Ottley is her cousin’s son.
Brunke has since started a GoFundMe campaign in an effort to raise money to help support the family with funeral costs, and therapy for Alex’s sister who allegedly witnessed the tragedy.
“Alex was a hero,” Brunke said in her post.
“I am proud to say Alex was my cousin’s son. It’s an honour to know this brave boy.”
As of Tuesday morning, the campaign had exceeded its $15,000 goal.
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