Jet ski seen approaching swimmers, beach safety review in progress

A jet ski on Colchester Beach on the weekend has prompted complaints and safety concerns in Essex. CTV Windsor’s Chris Campbell has the details.

The Town of Essex is reviewing safety measures at Colchester Beach after receiving multiple complaints about a privately owned jet ski reportedly travelling through the designated swimming area over the weekend.

Mayor Sherry Bondy said parents contacted her after witnessing what they described as a jet ski repeatedly travelling along the shoreline while families were in the water.

“They were swimming here at the beach with their children, and a jet ski was going back and forth, back and forth along the shore,” Bondy told CTV News.

She said parents allegedly yelled at the operator to slow down but were met with a rude response.

“This is something that I take very seriously. I want families to feel safe at our harbour, safe swimming. So, I have a zero-tolerance policy for jet skis coming to our beach,” she added.

Bondy said the town already posts signs at the beach and advises personal watercraft operators launching from the harbour to return there if they need to switch riders, rather than entering the swimming area.

“Heaven forbid, I don’t want any accidents to happen,” she said.

“I want to have this conversation before somebody gets hurt.”

The mayor said council and administration will conduct a walkabout at the harbour on June 22 to review safety concerns, while a report expected in July will examine potential improvements.

Among the ideas under consideration is installing seasonal buoys earlier in the year to more clearly define the swimming area.

“So, when people are launching their jet skis, there’s a clear, defined line where people know that they can’t go 300 feet close to the beach,” Bondy said.

Beachgoers said they support efforts to keep motorized watercraft away from swimmers.

“We come to this beach because it’s safe, because I can trust that my kids are safe at the beach, and we want to keep it that way,” said visitor Danielle Standford.