Missing Teen Found Dead In Muskoka River
Posted July 27, 2008 12:00 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
A 16-year-old boy who disappeared Saturday in Muskoka has been found dead.
OPP Water Search and Rescue discovered the body of Josue Sebastian Perez in the basin of Wilson Falls at 9am Sunday.
Perez, who was from East York, was swimming with a group of teens. He was last seen at the North Branch of the Muskoka River.
A post-mortem will be scheduled shortly.
It’s been a deadly weekend in cottage country.
A 20-year-old cliff jumper drowned Saturday.
Matt Jansen, from St. Ann’s, was pulled from the bottom of a gorge near the South Branch of the Muskoka River.
Water Safety Tips For Lakes and Rivers
Information courtesy The American Red Cross.
- Learn to swim. The best thing anyone can do to stay safe in and around the water is to learn to swim–this includes adults and children. The American Red Cross has swimming courses for people of any age and swimming ability. To enroll in swim course, contact your local Red Cross chapter.
- Select a supervised area. A trained lifeguard who can help in an emergency is the best safety factor. Even good swimmers can have an unexpected medical emergency in the water. Never swim alone.
- Select an area that is clean and well maintained. A clean bathhouse, clean restrooms, and a litter-free environment show the management’s concern for your health and safety.
- Select an area that has good water quality and safe natural conditions. Murky water, hidden underwater objects, unexpected drop-offs, and aquatic plant life are hazards. Water pollution can cause health problems for swimmers. Strong tides, big waves, and currents can turn an event that began as fun into a tragedy.
- Make sure the water is deep enough before entering headfirst. Too many swimmers are seriously injured every year by entering headfirst into water that is too shallow. A feet first entry is much safer than diving.
- Be sure rafts and docks are in good condition. A well-run open-water facility maintains its rafts and docks in good condition, with no loose boards or exposed nails. Never swim under a raft or dock. Always look before jumping off a dock or raft to be sure no one is in the way.
- Avoid drainage ditches and arroyos. Drainage ditches and arroyos for water run-off are not good places for swimming or playing in the water. After heavy rains, they can quickly change into raging rivers that can easily take a human life. Even the strongest swimmers are no match for the power of the water. Fast water and debris in the current make ditches and arroyos very dangerous.
