Marine Incident/Drowning at Britannia Beach

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Sunday, July 5, 2020   1:56am 

(Ottawa) – Ottawa Police Service frontline officers along with the Marine, Dive and Trails Unit responded to a marine incident/possible drowning at Britannia Beach at approximately 8:04pm yesterday evening.

A group of people were swimming in the Ottawa River. A 20 year old male member of this group was observed going under the water and he did not resurface.

Frontline officers, members of the Marine, Dive and Trails Unit, as well as our Ottawa Fire Services partners searched the water and shoreline by boat and foot. Marine, Dive and Trails Unit divers recovered the male’s body at approximately 1:41am this morning.

The Ottawa Police Service Victims Crisis Unit counselors are assisting the witnesses.

The West Criminal Investigations Unit will be conducting an investigation to determine what occurred.

Investigators will be liaising with outside police agencies in order to advise the male’s next of kin as soon as possible. 

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