Samaritan recounts frantic moments during suspected drowning in Port Burwell

Emergency Response Team members walk the beach as recovery efforts for a missing swimmer in Port Burwell continue on June 23, 2025. (Brent Lale/CTV NewsLondon)

As the search continues for a missing swimmer in Port Burwell, Ont. family members are hoping for closure.

Two men who wish not to be identified were walking the Provincial Park beach Monday morning along with officers and members of Ontario Parks as part of the recovery efforts.

They did not wish to do an interview, however said the last 24 hours have been extremely difficult and they just hope their relative will resurface soon to give them the closure they need.

Meanwhile, a Samaritan who tried to save the father and his young teenage daughter described the frantic final moments before he went under the water and did not resurface.

“The young girl and her dad were swimming and having a good time, then happened to get out too far,” Brittany Chessell told CTV News via email.

Chessell and her friend Melissa were the first to respond to the swimmers in distress.

“The father got dragged out further than the daughter. The daughter told her dad she was getting tired and struggling. He tried to get back to her, eventually being able to reach her he was so tired he took one last breath and pushed his daughter with a wave in hopes it would bring her in closer to shore. He unfortunately went under after his last breath and did not resurface.”

OPP along with Joint Rescue Coordination Centre Trenton continued to search the Lake Erie waters at the Port Burwell Provincial Park Monday morning.

“The underwater search and recovery team is looking for a missing swimmer,” says Sgt. Ed Sanchuk of West Region OPP. “We have our emergency response team members, and we have aviation services, our helicopter coming down as well, to search for this missing individual.”

Chessell said the waves were “very big and strong” and she could feel the current pulling her and her friend as they tried the rescue. She added a man came into help as all three of them risked their lives to save the teenage girl.

“He was up to his chin in the water taking on the waves, encouraging us to keep swimming to him,” said Chessell. “He is the reason Mel and I are here today along with the young girl.”

The incident in Port Burwell was one of three major incidents involving water in southwestern Ontario.

Chatham-Kent police are searching the area around the Thames River looking for a missing teenage girl, and there were two non-fatal drownings Sunday in Port Stanley, Ont.

“They were taking in a lot of water, but lifeguards were doing some training and they went in and they got them to safety,” says Murray Decorte, district chief of Central Elgin Fire and Rescue.

“Along with fire, they got them out and got them into EMS’ hands and taking both to hospital”.

Sanchuk, who has attended too many of these incidents over the years- knows the power of Lake Erie.

“If you are going to go swimming in Lake Erie, Lake Ontario, whatever the case may be, just do your research regardless of your strong swimmer,” said Sanchuk.

“If you if you’re a weak swimmer, please do me a favour. Wear a property fitted life jacket because that piece of equipment will save your life. If you’re on a sandbar all sudden that sandbar can disappear and all of a sudden, you’re in seven to 10 feet of water. We’re just asking people, make sure you put your safety as a priority.”

Port Burwell Provincial Park beach is closed Monday as the search continues.