Police identify missing 80-year-old boater in Oakville as search continues
Published August 27, 2021 at 11:25 am
Halton Police have identified the missing owner of a boat they found adrift in Oakville early Thursday evening.
The operator of the boat, Robert Wyles, who is not a resident of Halton, is reported missing after officers of the Halton Police Marine unit discovered his unoccupied vessel near the mouth of 16 Mile Creek and Lake Ontario.
An extensive search of the area with police utilizing flares to enhance visibility was conducted through the night and into Friday morning, but have police have yet to find the missing 80-year-old.
It was shortly after 6 p.m. on Thursday evening, when a storm was moving through that the marine unit, which was in the area helping another boater, noticed a boat nearby that appeared to be adrift.
Marine officers found no occupants aboard, but a subsequent investigation would reveal the vessel was purchased at Bronte Harbor earlier in the day and the “experienced operator” boarded it alone and left Bronte Harbor at around 12:30 p.m.
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A search and rescue was immediately initiated which quickly expanded to joint efforts between Halton/Peel/Hamilton Police Marine units, Towarf and JRCC (CFB Trenton), who has assumed command on the water search.
A Halton Police search team have been conducting a shoreline search along the shores of Lake Ontario from 16 Mile Creek Area (Trafalgar Rd.) to Bronte Harbor ( Burloak Dr.) throughout the night and into Friday.
Halton Police are asking residents with shoreline property within this area to check their shorelines for the Wyles.
Anyone who may have witnessed anything in relation to this incident or has any relevant information is asked to contact the 2 District Criminal Investigations Bureau at 905-825-4777, ext. 2215 or ext. 2216 or the Halton Police Marine Unit at 905-825-4747, ext. 5230
Tips can also be submitted anonymously to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or through the website at www.haltoncrimestoppers.ca.
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