Third weekend drowning victim found, identified

Ontario police on Wednesday morning recovered the body of a third young man who drowned in Ontario’s cottage country on Sunday.

Vladimir Tsimfer, 31, of Mississauga, was found by the Ontario Provincial Police Wednesday morning, said Sgt. Paul Connell.

Peter Ludian, 21, who was visiting from Poland, and Vladimir Sirghi, 22, from Barrie were found Tuesday, said Const. Peter Leon. The three men drowned after they were trapped at the bottom of the Moon River Falls that feed into Georgian Bay.

The falls, which cannot be accessed by land, are located near the town of Mactier on Georgian Bay, about 25 km west of Lake Muskoka and 200 kilometres north of Toronto.

Their bodies were held against rocks by strong water pressure after swimming in turbulent waters on Sunday afternoon, said Leon. He added the water was particularly dangerous over the weekend, because recent heavy rainfall swelled the river and created much stronger currents than usual.

Divers resumed the search for the missing men Tuesday morning after suspending their operation Monday due to dangerous diving conditions, a spokesperson said.

Connell, who has worked with the underwater search and recovery unit for 20 years, said this time of year is the busiest. "Most of the drowning we encounter are avoidable," he said. "Either having the skill set before you enter the water or wearing a life-jacket if you don’t is the best way to prevent this type of thing."