Midwestern

St Marys Quarry to remain closed following drowning

St Marys has provided an update on the drowning incident that occurred Sunday at the town’s quarry.

The body of a 63-year-old man who drowned at the St. Marys Quarry has been recovered and identified by the Stratford Police Service.

The body was removed Monday afternoon, and the family of the deceased was contacted.

“On behalf of the Town of St. Marys, I extend our deepest condolences to the family at this sad time,” said Mayor Al Strathdee. “As a tight-knit community that welcomes visitors, we are heartbroken by this tragedy.”

At approximately 5 p.m. on Sunday, August 23, police, fire and EMS responded to a call at the swimming Quarry in St. Marys. A man from the Kitchener-Waterloo area was snorkelling in the water and his family reported him missing. The search was called off at approximately 6:30 p.m., and the quarry was secured overnight by Stratford Police Service.

The St. Marys Quarry will be closed for the remainder of the 2020 season. Stratford police have advised municipal staff the quarry must remain closed until a coroner’s report is received, a process that can take up to two weeks or longer. The closure also allows for support and protection for quarry lifeguards and staff as needed.

Refunds will be provided for any advance registrations that have been made, as the quarry would have been scheduled to close on Monday, September 7.

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