Port Burwell beach closed as police search for missing swimmer

Port Burwell Provincial Park Beach in southwestern Ontario is currently closed as police search for a man who went missing while swimming with his daughter on Sunday afternoon.

Emergency crews were called to the beach shortly after 3 p.m. for a report of two swimmers in distress, OPP said.

Police say the daughter was pushed to the shore by her father then pulled to safety by “good Samaritans” and taken to hospital with non-life threatening injuries. The father did not resurface.

UPDATE – father and daughter in distress while swimming in #LakeErie in @PortBurwellPP. Daughter rescued by good samaritans after father pushes her closer to shore. #OPP continuing to search for missing male. Updates to follow. #ElginOPP ^es pic.twitter.com/PMDLlJRtAr

— OPP West Region (@OPP_WR) June 23, 2025

As of Monday morning the beach was still closed for the search. Trenton police, the RCMP and the Canadian Coast Guard are assisting in the efforts.

Port Burwell beach is on the north shore of Lake Erie and is about 50 kilometres southeast of London, Ont.

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