Lifeguards on high-alert the day after Centennial Beach drowning

CTV Barrie: Barrie Drowning It was a tragic start to the weekend, when a teenage boy drowned at centennial beach in Barrie last night. CTV's Mike Walker reports.

Life guards at Centennial Beach in Barrie were on high-alert on Saturday after a teenage boy drowned at the beach Friday evening.

Emergency crews responded to the scene around 6pm on Friday after the sixteen year-old went missing. He was later found just below the waterline, twenty five feet outside of the designated swimming area.

“He was located by the marine unit. He was brought to shore and transported to hospital where was pronounced deceased,” says Constable Sarah Bamford from the Barrie Police.

The tragedy occurred thirty minutes after the city’s lifeguards went off duty.  Their standard shift is 11:30am to 5:30pm

“Our intense usage is during that time,” says Steve Lee Young, the Manager of Recreation for the city of Barrie.

In the wake of the drowning the city had extra lifeguards on duty today, promoting the city’s free life jacket loaner program, and reminding everyone about open water safety.

“If you’re not a well-trained swimmer, stay within the buoy areas where it’s safer. Make sure you are always within arms-reach. Things can happen fast,” says Lee Young.

According to the lifesaving society, drowning is the third leading cause of unintentional death among Canadians under the age of sixty.