Police recover body of swimmer who had disappeared at Sandpoint Beach

Ontario Provincial Police divers have recovered the body of a teenaged swimmer who disappeared in the water near Sandpoint Beach on Sunday.

The Windsor Police Service made the announcement Monday on X.com (formerly Twitter).

The teen's body was discovered around noon Monday, in the area where he was last seen swimming.

The force extended its condolences to the young man's loved ones.

It also confirmed that the boy was 15 years old; it had previously reported he was 14. 

The Windsor Police Marine Unit responded to a possible drowning at around 3 p.m. Sunday, according to a news release issued Sunday by the force. 

Search and rescue turned to recovery operation

It said two teenagers were swimming just west of the beach when one went under the water and did not resurface.

The second teen flagged down a boater and called for police assistance.  

Windsor Police enlisted support from the Coast Guard, Canadian Armed Forces and Ontario Provincial Police.

A spokesperson for the federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO), which overseas the Canadian Coast Guard, told CBC News on Monday morning that the boy was presumed deceased. 

The city councillor for Ward 7 told CBC Monday his heart went out to the victim's family.

"I can't even imagine the pain that they're suffering right now," Coun. Angelo Marignani said.

He said the city needs to act to prevent further tragedy. 

Eight people have drowned while swimming at the beach since 1986, including a man is his 20s, who lost his life there in May of 2021, and two people who died in May of 2024. 

The deaths are frequently attributed to a steep drop-off into strong currents in the water off the western edge of the beach near the mouth of the Detroit River. 

The city produced a new Sandpoint Beach master plan following the 2021 death, with a stated intent of relocating the beach eastward away from the dangerous currents.

Advocates say immediate action needed

That plan was endorsed by council in January.

The plan for a reimagined Sandpoint is "still in our file," Marignani said, but it needs funding.

"I've been pressing every year because this is the one thing that I see as crucial in this area of the city," he said. 

Meanwhile, Marignani said, he's open to closing the beach entirely until it can be made safe.

One concerned citizen is calling for such a closure.

"You don't understand how close that is to a freighter channel," said Greg Lachance, referring to the west end of the beach.

"This is the equivalent of putting a playground next to E.C. Row and telling people — putting a sign up — saying don't go on E.C. Row."

Lachance accused city council of not moving quickly enough to address the safety issues, saying council doesn't care enough about east Windsor. 

"We're willing to fund vanity projects — ie: the streetcar, ie: Charles Clark Square, the Civic Esplanade — for millions," he said. 

"But you won't drop $15 million into something that is actually costing human lives."

Some citizens have launched an online petition, echoing Lachance and Marignani's calls for the city to act immediately. 

CBC has reached out to several councillors for comment.