North Beach drownings

Undertow claims two more lives

On Sunday the winds began to pick up suddenly, creating large waves and luring unsuspecting beachgoers into the churning water. But for a 64-year-old Oshawa resident, and a 25-year-old Mississauga resident, the decision to challenge the waves proved to be a terrible mistake.

The undertow at North Beach has proven to be treacherous in the past. Park officials say the geometry of the beach lends itself to creating a powerful undertow that pulls swimmers underneath the surface.

The Prince Edward OPP responded with Prince Edward County Fire and Rescue and Hastings Quinte EMS to North Beach Provincial Park at approximately 1 p.m, as a family had been swimming and one member failed to surface. An individual was pulled from the water and CPR was started by first responders on scene before being taken to a local hospital. Sixty-four-year-old Alex Aloysius of Oshawa was pronounced deceased.

Then, just before 6 p.m. officers responded again with Prince Edward County Fire and Rescue and Hastings Quinte EMS as a group of friends had been swimming and one party failed to surface.

An individual was pulled from the water and CPR was started by bystanders before being transported to a local hospital. Twenty-five-year- old Muhammad Azmat from Mississauga was pronounced deceased.

There are likely few people who understand the unique characteristics and sad history of this beach better than Ernie Margetson. His dad, Ralph, helped develop North Beach and manage it for several years. “A lot of times when Dad was late getting home, we suspected a drowning,” explained Margetson, an engineer and council member representing Hillier. “It has always been a potentially risky beach, on both sides of the sand bar, when the wind picks up.”

Despite the warm sun, there was a steady wind on Sunday. Margetson explained that the nearshore bathymetry—the shape of the shoreline drop off—at North Beach is different than Outlet Beach at Sandbanks Provincial Park, in that it is a more severe decline. He adds that the wave action below the surface is just as profound under the surface as it is above. “The profile of the shoreline at North Beach drops off quickly, getting deeper faster,” said Margetson. “The waves come rolling in and hit the shallow area, with significant force. That energy creates, at times, a significant undertow—as the waves curl under and back toward the open lake.”

Getting caught in the undertow is disconcerting even for a strong swimmer—including those who know the undertow risk. “I’ve been caught by it a few times,” said Margetson. “It is very disorienting. It is hard not to panic.” But panic only compounds the predicament. Seasoned beachgoers recommend going with the pull it until it releases you—saving your energy for the swim back. But too often, this struggle ends in tragedy.

Margetson expressed sympathy for the families who lost brothers and dads on Sunday. He acknowledged, too, the toll on the rescue and recovery teams tasked with the sad job of recovery. “It is very demoralizing,” said Margetson. “It is just so sad. These were people just trying to enjoy themselves on a summer weekend.”

The Hiller councillor says there are no easy solutions. He says beachgoers need to understand the risks, especially on windy days. They have to pay attention to the flags. If it is black, the risk is simply too great. He adds, too, that risks exist on both sides of the sand bar, noting the drowning of two boys on the inland bayside a few years ago. “Swimming, where ever you go, carries with it some risk and danger,” said Margetson. Tragedies, such as Sunday’s loss of two men, serve as a sad reminder of this fact.

If caught in an undertow, swimmers are advised not to fight the pull or thrash about. The best advice is to stay calm, something more easily said than done when being pulled underwater. The force of water will return the swimmer to the surface, though likely a distance from shore.

North Beach Provincial Park was shuttered for maintenance on Monday.