Parry Sound family shares its heartache after tragic loss of son during camping trip
What was supposed to be a nice family camping trip before back to school, has ended in a nightmare.
Nine-year-old Everett Freeman went camping with his family on Huckleberry Island in Georgian Bay, and went missing around 3 p.m. on Friday.
After a 24-hour search, it ended in tragedy when Freeman's body was recovered.
"He was one in a million, he was so smart, so kind, so compassionate and so loving," said Korey Freeman, the father of Everett. "We went there Thursday night, and Friday the kids were playing hide and seek. Everett was playing with some of his younger cousins, the game petered off and he wandered off . He's an introvert so sometimes he needed a bit of space."
OPP began a major search effort, lasting well overnight into Saturday.
Their search included three canine units, aviation services, their marine unit and their underwater search & recovery team.
Local fire departments and the Canadian Search and Rescue Team were also helping out in the search.
The young boy's body was retrieved from the water.
The family said it doesn't know how this could have happened.
"We're just so grateful, we're so heartbroken but so grateful we had Everett for these nine years," said the devastated father, Korey Freeman.
Everett's father told CTV News that he's incredibly thankful to the police and everyone involved in the search.
An outpouring of support and condolences have also flooded Freeman's social media, for which he said he's forever grateful.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'One of the single most terrifying things ever': Ontario couple among passengers on sinking tour boat in Dominican Republic
A Toronto couple are speaking out about their 'extremely dangerous' experience on board a sinking tour boat in the Dominican Republic last week.
What Canadians think of the latest Liberal budget
A new poll suggests the Liberals have not won over voters with their latest budget, though there is broad support for their plan to build millions of homes.
opinion Why you should protect your investments by naming a trusted contact person
Appointing a trusted person to help with financial obligations can give you peace of mind. In his personal finance column for CTVNews.ca, Christopher Liew outlines the key benefits of naming a confidant to take over your financial responsibilities, if the need ever arises.
Teacher shortages see some Ontario high school students awarded perfect grades on midterm exams
Students at a high school in York Region have been awarded perfect marks on their midterm exams in three subjects – not because of their academic performances however, but because they had no teacher.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.
Photographer alleges he was forced to watch Megan Thee Stallion have sex and was unfairly fired
A photographer who worked for Megan Thee Stallion said in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that he was forced to watch her have sex, was unfairly fired soon after and was abused as her employee.
Ottawa injects another $36M into vaccine injury compensation fund
The federal government has added $36.4 million to a program designed to support people who have been seriously injured or killed by vaccines since the end of 2020.
An Ontario senior thought he called Geek Squad for help with his printer. Instead, he got scammed out of $25,000
An Ontario senior’s attempt to get technical help online led him into a spoofing scam where he lost $25,000. Now, he’s sharing his story to warn others.
Her fiance has been in prison for 49 years. She's trying to free him before it's too late
Christine Roess is a retired consultant. Ezra Bozeman has spent the last 49 years in prison, serving a life sentence for a murder he says he didn’t commit. Against the odds, the two fell in love.