OPP investigating 2 suspected drownings in Prince Edward County

An OPP cruiser is pictured in this undated photo. (Source: OPP Central Region)

Ontario Provincial Police say a Toronto man has died and another person is missing following separate incidents on the water in Prince Edward County over the weekend.

The first incident took place at around 11 p.m. Saturday on East Lake, about 40 kilometres south of Belleville. OPP were called to a resort on County Road 18 on reports of a possible drowning.

When officers arrived, members of Prince Edward County Fire and Rescue, Hastings-Quinte Paramedics, and bystanders were attempting life-saving measures.

OPP say a 51-year-old Toronto man was taken to hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

• Toronto man identified as victim of drowning in Prince Edward County

A second report came in at around 6 p.m. Sunday from County Road 11, saying a group of people had been on East Lake in two canoes when they decided to go swimming and could not get back to their boats. Police say one person made it to shore, and a bystander went out in his boat and pulled two other individuals from the water, but the final person could not be located.

OPP divers will be searching East Lake on Monday for the missing person, whose identity is not being released at this time.

These incidents follow a drowning in the St. Lawrence River near Gananoque over the weekend, where a 20-year-old Ottawa man died.

Officials have been reminding swimmers to take precautions near waterways and to always wear a lifejacket or personal flotation device, especially while boating or participating in water activities.