Two recent drownings in Grey-Bruce region are a sobering reminder to be aware of water movement and currents while swimming.
According to Public Health Manager Andrew Barton, beaches along the Huron coastline in particular have rip currents — a movement of water along the beach that turns 90 degrees and can move between sand bars.
He says this kind of current sweeps people away from the beach very quickly, and it can be alarming.
South Bruce Peninsula Mayor Janice Jackson says she often sees parents running up and down Sauble Beach looking for their kids in the water.
“They take their eyes off their children for a split second, and then they don’t see them and all of a sudden they’re 40-50 yards down the beach.”
On July 23rd, a 28-year-old non-swimmer drowned on the Saugeen First Nation end of Sauble Beach.
While she can’t speak for Saugeen First Nation, Jackson says there are plenty of stations with safety equipment along the municipal shores of Sauble Beach — but they’re planning for a safety audit shortly.
“This company that specializes in beach safety will advise us on any extra measures that we need to take in order to make our beach even safer.”
Jackson says council takes the matter of beach safety very seriously, and they’re in favour of anything that can improve safety.
Police also responded to a call on July 22nd to the harbour area in Thornbury, where a witness reported a potential drowning.
Despite life-saving efforts, the woman was confirmed dead at a local hospital.
According to the Royal Life Saving Society of Canada, drowning is the third leading cause of unintentional deaths among Canadian’s under 60 years of age, with some 500 deaths per year.
