Grieving mother hopes to implement Life Jacket Loaner program in Elgin County

A grieving mother hopes to implement a life jacket loaner program in Elgin County. CTV London's Brent Lale reports.

The past four months have been a nightmare for Linda King.

“It’s been very emotional, very upsetting and something you never think a parent is going to ever go through,” says King, whose son Ryan Davies drowned in Lake Margaret in St. Thomas, Ont. On Sept. 2, 2024.

Davies and his friends were out for an early morning fishing trip in the man-made lake when the canoe tipped over. Two people were rescued, but Davies, 26, never resurfaced.

Hours later, the OPP Underwater Rescue Unit pulled his body from the water.

King now has a mission to make sure no other parent feels the grief she does.

“One of the main priorities right now is to get a life jacket loaner program at Main Beach in Port Stanley and also at Lake Margaret,” says King, who has started a petition.

Davies’ death was one of two prominent drownings in the area in 2024. A 14-year old boy died in Port Stanley in July.

After those two deaths, the Elgin County Drowning Prevention Coalition (ECDPC) is throwing its support behind King’s idea.

“We have worked with Linda to share some resources and names of other programs that have been successfully set up and endorsed by the Life Saving Society and the Canadian Drowning Prevention Coalition,” says Briar McCaw of the ECDPC.

The loaner programs are popular in Alberta, and also in the U.S.

The Town of Saugeen Shores implemented a free borrowing program in 2024 at the beach in Port Elgin.

“Our assessment after year one has been that it’s been a successful program,” Mayor Luke Charbonneau told CTV News. “It’s really simple. There are life jackets hanging on pegs outside of our washroom facility. They show up, they grab a life jacket off the peg, one that fits them. They take it out, they use it, and when they’re done, they bring it back”.

Central Elgin Mayor Andrew Sloan is intrigued by King’s idea, “Central Elgin is always interested in hearing from concerned citizens because safety is a priority.”

“We have our lifeguards and volunteer fire department always looking at ways to make places or make the community more safe. Staff and council will take a look and to see whether that’s a viable option,” said Sloan.

King says their family has a boat, and Ryan would wear his life jacket on the water.

“They had a canoe, and I just think they didn’t realize how deep Lake Margaret was and how easily they could tip the canoe,” King added.

She hopes that this program would stop another parent from feeling her grief.

“Some days I wake up and I say, ‘Ryan, I’m really mad at you. Why didn’t you wear a life jacket?’” said King. “I think at 26 years old, you think you’re invincible. And it’s not going to happen to you. I’ve had several people say I didn’t wear a life jacket in a canoe before, but I’m going to now.”

The Life Saving Society says statistics consistently show that 80 per cent of victims in boating-related drownings were not wearing a lifejacket/PFD.