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Father, 35, found dead in Lake Erie after being pulled under swimming

Emergency crews recovered the body of a 35-year old man on Monday after he was pulled under swimming off the shores of Port Burwell Provincial Park the day before.

The Woodstock, Ont., man was swimming at the beach at Port Burwell Provincial Park with daughter

Ontario Provincial Police were searching the water near Port Burwell Provincial Park on Monday for a man who went missing Sunday, June 22, 2025.
Ontario Provincial Police were searching the water near Port Burwell Provincial Park on Monday for a man who went missing Sunday, June 22, 2025. (Andrew Lupton/ CBC News)

Emergency crews recovered the body of a 35-year-old man from Woodstock Monday after he was pulled under off the shores of Port Burwell Provincial Park the day before.  

Police said the man, who had been swimming with his teenage daughter at the beach, did not resurface when the pair got into trouble in the water around 3 p.m. Sunday.

"What I've been told by witnesses is that dad was able to push the daughter closer to the shoreline. Two good Samaritans were able to grab onto the daughter and pull her to shore," Ontario Provincial Police Sgt. Ed Sanchuk said.

Police were not identifying the man, but earlier in the day, Sanchuk said his thoughts were with the family. 

Police worked with members of the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre Trenton to find the missing swimmer using boats, as well as drones and a helicopter. 

He warned people that the currents on Lake Erie are strong and swimmers should wear life jackets. 

Port Burwell Provincial Park was closed Monday morning for the duration of the search but was reopened shortly after noon.