Drowning death in Ottawa River after emergency landing of airplane
Posted May 28, 2018 08:44:00 PM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
One man is dead after trying to recover a plane from the bottom of the Ottawa River, near Balmer Bay.
A small private plane lost power around 6:30 p.m. last Friday, forcing the pilot to make an emergency landing near the bay in Laurentian Hills.
The 49-year-old pilot, who had taken off from the Deep River airport, suffered minor injuries in the landing but was able to swim to shore.
The next morning, around 11 a.m., a diver involved in the recovery effort of the plane became entangled in a rope, which was attached to the sunken craft, making it impossible for him to surface.
A 911 call was placed and efforts were made by others on scene to reach the diver, but they were unsuccessful. Several units of the OPP responded, along with The Deep River Police and Fire Department, Renfrew County Paramedics, Ornge and Garrison Petawawa Fire Department.
The body of John Beevis, 56, of Laurentian Valley Township was recovered later Saturday afternoon. An autopsy is expected to be conducted as a police investigation continues.
