Another boy died in similar circumstances 10 years ago

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Parallels are being drawn between the July 26 drowning of a 16-year-old East York boy in Bracebridge and the drowning of a 12-year-old boy in Cambridge 10 years ago.

Josue Sebastian Perez was crossing the Muskoka River near Wilson Falls, which is close to a hydro generating station, when he was apparently sucked under the water while just 15 to 20 feet from shore. The teen's body was recovered the next day.

The drowning occurred a decade after Mark Gage died under similar circumstances when he went into the water by the Parkhill dam in Cambridge. Dave Nicholson, the police scuba diver who tried to save the boy, also drowned.

Alan Preyra, the Perez family lawyer, said a coroner's inquest into the Parkhill incident made recommendations dealing with safety precautions around hydro generating stations. "It would appear the recommendations weren't fulfilled," he said. "There are more than 100 of these dams in the province, and it appears that very few of them have any safeguards."

Coincidentally, both Josue and Mark were twins.

Preyra is seeking an inquest into Josue's death.

More than $2,000 has been raised to help the Perez family cover funeral costs and to raise awareness of the dangers of the area where the drowning occurred.

Preyra said Josue's father, Jorge, wants to put some of the money towards purchasing and erecting warning signs in the area as well as putting up a chain-link fence to prevent people from crossing the river where Josue drowned.

"The community and Mr. Perez's employer have been very generous in donations towards defraying the funeral costs," said Preyra. "My instructions from Mr. Perez are now to begin focusing on what we can do to make the Wilson Falls area safe."

Donations can be made at any TD Canada Trust branch. The account number is 63203771993.