A man who was out enjoying the spring-like weather Tuesday has died after his canoe capsized north of the city, according to York Regional Police.
The death occurred in Newmarket Tuesday afternoon after the man fell out of his canoe, which then flipped over.
According to reports, the man fell into some rapids in the area and became trapped in the water.
The accident occurred near in the Holland River, which is close to Bayview Parkway and Elgin Street in the Mable Davis Conservation Area.
Uniformed officers who arrived on the scene couldn't enter the water because of safety concerns.
A police Marine Unit was called in from nearby Keswick, but the man was in the water for about 30 minutes before the unit arrived.
He has not been identified. Officers are now probing what caused the man to fall from his canoe.
York police Const. Gary Phillips said the Holland River is a popular place for canoeing and kayaking, but he said it can be dangerous in some spots.
Phillips said that the death occurred near a dam in the river, which creates "hydraulic" turbulence in the water and pulls objects into its flow.
Police aren't sure if the man was wearing a lifejacket, but they are reminding all boaters to do so whenever they head out on the water.
