Body of missing boater found in Porters Lake

A 62-year-old West Chezzetcook man is dead after an apparent boating accident in Porters Lake.

Halifax District RCMP received a call just before 11:30 on Sunday night that a boat was spotted going around in circles on the lake and a voice was heard calling for help, according to a police news release.

Halifax Regional Fire and Emergency assisted with two boats, and Eastern Shore Ground Search and Rescue and several local boaters also helped search the area.

The unoccupied boat was retrieved and the search continued through the night for the missing operator, the release said.

RCMP spokeswoman Cpl. Jennifer Clarke said the boat was spotted where Highway 7 crosses a bridge that essentially divides the lake in half, down the road from Toulany’s Market.

A Department of Natural Resources helicopter and RCMP Underwater Recovery Team were called in to help with the search in the morning, according to the release.

At 8:13 a.m., a person called 911 to report a body found in the water near his home, and it was later confirmed to be that of the missing boater.

Clarke said it is unclear if the man had a life-jacket on at the time but there was one in the boat.

“We’re looking into exactly what happened for this gentleman to have . . . ended up in the water,” Clarke said.

The investigation is ongoing.