OPP assesses water conditions as police continue search for Alex Ottley

Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) say officers are assessing the current weather and water conditions as they enter the seventh day of searching for the body of Alex Ottley.

The nine-year-old boy went missing in the waters of Lake Erie last Saturday.

Family friends say the boy went into the water to help his friend who was swept in by a big wave at Peacock Point.

Alex’s 10-year-old sister, Melody, was with the boys and ran up to the roadway to flag down a vehicle for help.

OPP says a man and woman from the car went out onto the ice and were able to rescue the eight-year-old boy but could not find Alex.

Alex’s grandfather also jumped in the water but was unable to locate him.

The U.S. Coast Guard, OPP Emergency Response teams and divers have all taken part in the search that has been deemed a recovery mission.

Rough waters, high winds, and icy conditions have hindered the search for his body but police have been consistently making efforts to return to the water.

Cst. Rodney Leclair said officers assessed the conditions Friday morning and will be launching a vessel into the water to resume search and recovery efforts utilizing sonar scan.

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