OPP respond to drowning on Georgian Bay

OPP News Release

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PARRY SOUND - The West Parry Sound Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) was called to an island on the Georgian Bay, Archipelago Township on Sunday July 24, 2011 at 8:26pm in response to a possible drowning.

OPP investigation determined that a female adult had been swimming alone in the waters of Georgian Bay around an island when she was observed by a witness to be adopting an unusual manner of swimming.

The witness donned a life jacket, attended her location, and offered her a Personal Floatation Device (PFD), which she refused. The witness then left the scene and returned in a boat within minutes to find the victim unresponsive in the water. The victim was transported to a nearby dock and assistance sought from others in the area.

West Parry Sound OPP Marine Unit transported paramedics to the island location. Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) was commenced by persons at the scene prior to OPP arrival. Paramedics continued CPR both at the scene and while on the OPP vessel during transport of the victim to an awaiting ambulance. Both OPP and paramedics continued CPR while en route to the West Parry Sound Health Centre.

Regna BERSENAS, 67 years of Toronto, was pronounced deceased by an attending physician at the West Parry Sound Health Centre later that same evening.

A post mortem was performed Monday July 25, 2011 at the West Parry Sound Health Centre. The cause of death was determined to be a drowning.

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