PRESCOTT – A scuba diver died Wednesday while exploring an ancient ship in the St. Lawrence River.
Grenville County O.P.P. and Leeds-Grenville EMS were called to the shore of the river about two kilometers west of Prescott (east of Maitland in Augusta Township) around 8:30 p.m.
A 59-year-old man from Nepean, Ont. was with a group when he became in distress while existing the water, police said.
He was brought to shore by other divers and then taken to hospital by ambulance where he was pronounced dead.
An autopsy is scheduled and an O.P.P. dive team is working on the investigation.
The divers were exploring the Rothesay – a 19th century wooden side-wheeler from New Brunwick, which was carrying passengers between Brockville and Montreal when she collided with a tugboat and sank in 1889.
Two crew members were killed in the wreck.