Boy, 14, drowns in Lake Ontario near Ashbridges Bay Park: police

Toronto police say a 14-year-old boy has died after he went missing in Lake Ontario on Sunday evening.

Acting Insp. Dan Pravica says the boy's body was pulled from the water on Monday, about 15 hours after he was seen in trouble in the water near Ashbridges Bay Park in the city's east end.

Pravica says it's unclear why the boy went into the water before he drowned, and a friend who was with the teen began screaming for help when he went under.

He say both the friend and a man passing by who jumped in the water tried to help, but their attempts as well as the actions of several first responders to immediately locate the boy were unsuccessful.

Police say the boy's body was found around 9 a.m. on Monday, near the area where he was last seen.

Pravica says a combination of factors might have caused the boy's drowning, such as the steep dropoff in the water at that area, but it's too soon to speculate.

"We all have kids, most of us do, and it's troubling no matter what," he said during a news conference on Monday. "I can't imagine what the family's going through at this time."

Pravica says people who want to go swimming at parks across Toronto should be careful and know the water temperature before taking a dip.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 15, 2024.

The Canadian Press