OCOA Certificate of Lifesaving 2007

On Tuesday, 4 July 2006, off-duty Conservation Officer Dirk Stuyck and fellow MNR employee Cale Selby went to do some fishing at dusk, approximately 10 kilometres out into Lake St. Clair.

While preparing their lines, they observed what at first appeared to be two other boats, but something did not look right. They approached the "boats" and observed that it was in fact an overturned boat and a person in the water. Another boat arrived on the scene at roughly the same time and pulled the individual from the water. Officer Stuyck determined that the other boat had notified the Coast Guard and then called the OPP Communications Centre in London to report the incident. It was determined from the rescued individual that there was another missing person from the boat. Officer Stuyck remained in contact with the OPP until he was transferred to RCC Trenton to liaise with the search and rescue. Wind and waves were picking up as the evening progressed. The two continued to search the area for the missing boater. During this time, a Coast Guard vessel arrived and the rescued individual was transferred to this vessel. Eventually, they were asked by the OPP to bring the rescued individual from the Coast Guard vessel to shore, which they did. The individual appeared to be in shock and had to be closely monitored during this trip. Shortly after delivering this individual to shore, the OPP found and rescued the other missing boater.