Cadaver dog search fails to find missing Lake Scugog canoeist
SCUGOG — Durham Regional Police searched the Lake Scugog shoreline, about 70 kilometres west of Peterborough, with a cadaver dog over the weekend but failed to locate the body of a Toronto man who disappeared after his canoe capsized two weeks ago.
“Nothing yet, we’re still trying to find or recover remains,” said Const. George Tudos, a spokesman for Durham Regional Police. “At this point, it’s a recovery mission to reunite him with his family.”
The fisherman, who police believe to be 31-year-old Phong Vu, was out alone in his canoe at the northern tip of Scugog Island when it capsized around 5 p.m. on Oct. 15. Witnesses located the canoe and contacted police and fire officials, who responded to the boater-in-distress call.
The missing man was not wearing a personal flotation device, police said.
His partner was not in the canoe at the time it tipped and was onshore.
Marine units from both the Scugog Fire Department and Durham police scoured the area around the northern end of Scugog Island, which has a popular boat launch.
The Durham Regional Police helicopter, Air-1, was also called in to assist with the search.
The Brock Township fire department’s marine unit also helped try to locate the missing man.
Following the man’s disappearance, York Regional Police divers were also called in to help with the search using sonar equipment, Tudos said.
The recovery is difficult given the size of Lake Scugog and currents, he said.
Tudos stressed that anyone out on Lake Scugog who sees something suspicious should call police at 905-579-1520.