This is a strange death and the teen who survived has an even stranger story. I want to thank Richard for sending this to me. Here is the article:
Boran Balci was swimming at Big Trout Lake in Algonquin Park with a group of his high school classmates from C.W. Jeffreys Collegiate Institute in Toronto when he felt something in the water pulling him down.
“I was swimming and something pulled me down. Something pulled my left leg and after my right leg,” the 17-year-old said on Thursday. “I was looking around and there was no Jeremiah. Where is Jeremiah?”
School officials confirmed on Wednesday that 15-year-old Jeremiah Perry, a student at C.W. Jeffreys, died of an apparent drowning while on a week-long school excursion which began on Sunday.
Ontario Provincial Police said the Toronto teen was swimming in Big Trout Lake, a remote area of Algonquin Park, when he went under the water but did not resurface.
Balci said a group of students decided to go in the water to clean off after two days hiking in the park.
“We went together for a swim because we were dirty. He was running to the water and he went inside of the water,” Balci said.
“I didn’t think it was Jeremiah. It was oily skin. It was like fish. I felt hands pulling me down.”
Balci said there was a lifeguard with the group but no one was able to locate Jeremiah, who he said wasn’t wearing a lifejacket.
“If lifeguard is not there, you can’t go in the water,” he said. “I had lifejacket too. I was going up. But he was really strong. But he was pulling me.”
Balci said a rescue helicopter and a diver were brought in Tuesday evening in an attempt to locate Jeremiah but the search was called off due to the darkness. OPP found Jeremiah’s body Wednesday afternoon.
Officials said the trip ended ahead of schedule after the C.W. Jefferys student’s disappearance, and the remaining students were taken out of the campground.
The students then boarded a plane and flew to a meeting point where buses transported them back to Toronto.
More than half of the 33 students on the trip returned home to Toronto early Thursday morning with the remaining to be brought back by Friday.
“Yes, there were challenges. But 18 kids are back. The rest of the kids will come home tomorrow,” Toronto District School Board spokesperson Shari Schwartz-Maltz said.
The circumstances surrounding Perry’s death are still under investigation. The school board said they are cooperating with police and will be speaking to staff and students in the coming days.
School officials said there are strict guidelines in place for excursions and that students had to pass a swim test before being allowed to go on the trip.
“This summer outdoor education course and program has been operating for a number of years with an excellent safety record,” TDSB Director John Malloy said in a statement on Wednesday. “We know all staff involved are committed to reviewing each and every aspect of this tragedy to assure ourselves and our communities of our safety procedures.”
Balci said students were given a swim test prior but questions remain on how it was administered.
“They brought us to Sparrow Lake. We stayed there two days. Everyone passed the swimming test,” he said. “If you don’t use lifejacket. If you know swim, you can swim. But if you don’t know, you can use a lifejacket.”
The school board said there are protocols in place to make sure students are aware of their surroundings and are comfortable with the outdoor conditions.
“Generally when we do canoe trips, conditions of the lake are different, than in a pool,” Schwartz-Maltz said. “Our expectation or what has been done, practices being there’s a lake test as well. These conditions can be different.”
Tedd
I wonder if there has been a history of issues in the area? What an awful thing even if it was just accidental drowning but it just doesn’t add up.
The person who was grabbed and let go was wearing a life vest and probably made him too boyount to keep down. Sounds like there was enough people around to witness a struggle or somebody who was drowning, usually splashing and yelling occurs unless a loss of consciousness. Strange and sad.
Trent M
There is a lake or reservoir in Oklahoma that has had similar stories of people being grabbed from under the water and being pulled down. I heard these stories from one of the the Bigfoot Outlaws. There were thought to be caves under the water where what ever was grabbing the people were believed to be living.
m99
A tragedy for sure. How frightening for the young man who died, and his friend who felt being pulled down. Of course if this is BF related, no one will Ever say so. Thanks for posting Wes.
Knobby
It sounds like Jeremiah got chocked and was drowning underwater and he grabbed at Boran’s legs because he was in trouble and needed help but Boran didn’t catch on that his friend was in trouble and we have a tragic accident.
Steven B
Logical possibility, Knobby. If that is the case, I hope the young man never finds out. It would be a hard thing to live with knowing he was so close to maybe saving Jeremiah.
Pete S
He said it felt “oily” which implies that he thought it was something else and not his friend. At least that’s my take on it.
Glen K
(New Jersey) Knobby, I think you got it right. A tragedy. Why someone would conclude Bigfoot, I don’t know. For what it’s worth, I thought the comments of the Toronto District School Board spokesperson were fairly idiotic. ” Yes there were challenges. But 18 kids are back and the rest will be back tomorrow. ” She thinks there were challenges? Really?
Tedd
Could be knobby but if he was wearing any type of flotation devise its awful hard to get below a person. I have kids and have tried out their little float thingies to see how strong they are and it’s harder than you would think to stay submerged. Guess if report said they found his P. F. D. prior to or separated from the deceased , that would make sense.
Kim S
Reminds me of that episode when the bloke was talking in his younger day with his cousin, and he found an underground cavern and even the alligators wouldn’t come down to that part, were they would frantically get out if they drifted while sleeping….damn good episode that one.
Paula B
Yes, Kim S, it was! Do you know the number of that episode?
I’d like to hear it again!
Kim S
Hey Paula, no I can’t remember what number episode either…but was a captivating episode ?