Four adults and one child aged five were rescued from Lake Wanapitei by a nearby resident Friday, after being thrown from their boat as it capsized in a sudden summer storm.
The resident had been in the Sandbanks area when the group left the shore that afternoon and had become increasingly concerned for the group’s safety as the weather began to turn, said staff sgt. Robin Marcotte of the Greater Sudbury Police.
Seeing no sign of their return, police were called a little after 2 p.m. and responded with their marine unit, that of Greater Sudbury Fire Services, and emergency service personnel.
The original caller did not wait for their arrival, however, but began their search as soon as there was a break in the storm to do so safely.
Before assistance could arrive, the group was found, and brought to safety without injury, he said.
All individuals are believed to have been wearing life jackets at the time, he said, which is likely to have contributed to the positive outcome.
The boat, which Marcotte says is estimated to be more than 16-feet long, was towed to shore and removed.
“It’s important to continually update yourself with incoming weather,” he said.
For some of these things, there is not going to be any warning, so it just emphasizes the importance of having life jackets, emergency equipment, people knowing where you’re going, a fully charged cell phone (or another way) to get assistance if it’s required.”
