Search teams recover missing man on Lake St. George
Search teams have recovered the body of a missing man who disappeared on Friday afternoon while on Lake St. George in Severn Township.
Catherine Garcia Fajardo has identified the man as her soon-to-be ex-husband and father of three children, Reinier Cespedes of Orillia.
"It’s very hard in particular for my children so they can’t understand what happened still so they ask me if their father is coming back home I say your father not coming back because it’s the truth," said Catherine Garcia Fajardo.
"The male was observed to go underwater. Rescue efforts were made but the male was not located," said Constable Brett Boniface with Orillia OPP.
Police say Cespedes was alone at the time in the lake.
A nearby resident who was not willing to appear on camera says she saw a neighbor jump on this kayak to try and save the man’s life.
"I could see his head and I called 9-1-1 and I told her what was going on I said I don’t don’t think I see his head anymore," said a resident.
Search and recovery teams spent most of the day scouring the lake looking for any sign of Cespedes.
On Tuesday, members of the OPP Underwater Search and Recovery Unit, with the assistance of the Orillia Detachment Marine Unit, located the body of the 32-year-old missing man.
He was pronounced deceased at the scene.
"The weather conditions obviously play a big role rain as well as wind conditions make it difficult for visibility as the water is moving with more varsity we also have issues with temperature," said Boniface.
Sadly, there were two other drownings in the area over the past weekend.
- Download the CTV News app to get local alerts on your device
- Get the latest local updates sent to your email inbox
On Sunday, Bracebridge OPP and its underwater recovery unit recovered the body of a 31-year-old Toronto area man on Lake Muskoka near Taylor Island. Police say the man was kayaking at the time.
And on Saturday the body of an 81-year-old man was pulled from Meaford Harbour.
The police would like to remind everyone that the water temperature is still very cold and can pose a potential danger.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Woman with liver failure rejected for a transplant after medical review highlights alcohol use
For nearly three months, Amanda Huska has been in an Ontario hospital, part of it on life support, because of severe liver failure. Her history of alcohol use is getting in the way of her only potential treatment: a liver transplant.
$500K-worth of elvers seized at Toronto airport
Fishery and border service officers seized more than 100 kilograms of unauthorized elvers at the Toronto Pearson International Airport on Wednesday.
Box tree moths have infested Ontario and experts say more are coming. Here's what to do to protect your garden
An invasive moth species is on the rise in Canada and, if you've planted a certain shrub, it could stand to ruin your garden.
B.C. study tracks breaths of killer whales using stunning drone video
The use of drones has helped researchers track the breathing patterns of killer whales off B.C.'s coast, and the videos offer a stunning glimpse of the majestic creatures diving and surfacing.
B.C. man 'attacked suddenly' by adult grizzly near Alberta boundary: RCMP
A B.C. man is recovering from multiple injuries after he was "attacked suddenly" by an adult grizzly bear near Elkford Thursday afternoon.
Jesus is their saviour, Trump is their candidate. Ex-president's backers say he shares faith, values
As Donald Trump increasingly infuses his campaign with Christian trappings while coasting to a third Republican presidential nomination, his support is as strong as ever among evangelicals and other conservative Christians.
Hundreds walk backwards in downtown Montreal to symbolize the decline of LGBTQ2S+ rights
On Friday, hundreds gathered and walked backwards in the heart of Montreal to honour the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia.
Thousands are expected to rally on Washington's National Mall in support of Palestinian rights
Thousands of protesters are expected to turn out for a rally in the American capital Saturday in support of Palestinian rights and an immediate end to Israeli military operations in Gaza.
Banking mogul suing government after intelligence leaks leave him shut out of Canadian economy
Chinese Canadian banking mogul Shenglin Xian has launched a $300 million lawsuit against the federal government. It’s a means to find the source of intelligence leaks which Xian says has cost him his livelihood.