Boy, 9, dead after being pulled from water at Britannia Beach - Action News
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Ottawa

Boy, 9, dead after being pulled from water at Britannia Beach

A nine-year-old boy has died after being pulled from the water at Ottawa's Britannia Beach Monday afternoon, according to police.

First responders were called to the Ottawa River beach Monday afternoon

Britannia Beach, June 3, 2024
Ottawa police at Britannia Beach west of downtown Ottawa Monday afternoon. A child who had been pulled from the water has died, police said Tuesday. (Brian Morris/CBC)

A nine-year-old boy who wastaken to hospital in life-threatening condition after being pulled from the water at Britannia Beach on Monday afternoon has died, police say.

Ottawa Fire Servicestold CBCthey got a call about a potential drowning atthe beach at 3:50 p.m. Monday.

Bystanders had pulled the child from the water and were performing CPRwhen first responders arrived.

Ottawa police confirmed Tuesday morning that the boy was pronounced dead at hospital. They have not released his name.

Police said investigators want to talk to anyone who was involved in the rescue attempt, but hasn't yet given a statement.

City beaches unsupervised until June 15

Last summer, first responders and the local city councilloremphasized water safetyin the area, including around a sudden drop-off, aftera17-year-old girlwas rescuedand the body of a21-year-old manwas recovered days later.

Aman died last week after emergency crews rescued him from thenearby Deschnes Rapids.

The city hasn't started supervisingits beaches this summer. Lifeguards will monitorBritannia Beach, plus Mooney's Bay and Petrie Island beaches, from June 15 until Aug. 25, from noon to 7 p.m.

Neighbourhood police teams worry that when school is out and the weather is consistently hot, after-hours parties at Britannia and other beaches will draw even bigger crowds.
A sign at Britannia Beach last year marks a sudden drop in depth. (Stu Mills/CBC)

The president for the community association immediately east of the beach told CBCon Tuesday there's a strong case for the lifeguardseason to start on the May long weekend and to stretch past 7 p.m.

"This beach is a gem in the city and it's very busy ... but it also means there needs to be more attention paid to safety," said Karen Patzer of the Britannia Village Community Association.

"The majority of City lifeguards at beaches and outdoor pools are students participating in our summer employment program," a city director said in a statement to CBC on Tuesday.

"Due to the school year schedule and staff availability for pre-season training and work, the programming hours at outdoor pools and beaches are scheduled within a timeframe that the majority of lifeguards are available to work."

The lifeguard season was extended oneextra week in 2016.

With files from Joseph Tunney and Rachelle Elsiufi