Two CT men die after canoe overturns in lake in Bolton as DEEP warns of boating in cold water

Two men were killed when their canoe overturned in a lake in Bolton on Wednesday, officials said.

The Department of Energy and Environmental Protection‘s Environmental Conservation Police responded to Lower Bolton Lake on Wednesday for reports of an overturned kayak and immediately transported one man to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead, DEEP said.

A dive team and fire department officials searched the area and found another man, who was pronounced dead at the scene, according to DEEP.

The men — ages 52 and 28 — were both from Vernon but had not yet been identified, EnCon police said.

DEEP is expected to release the men’s identities later Thursday, officials said.

According to DEEP, multiple police and fire departments assisted at the scene, including the Vernon Police and Fire Departments, the Bolton Fire Department, the Tolland Company Dive Team and the Capitol Region Emergency Services Team.

In a statement Thursday, DEEP reminded Connecticut residents of the dangers of boating in cold water. “Water temperatures can remain cold long after air temperatures have warmed up,” a spokesperson for the department said.

The department issued a list of safety tips:

• Always wear a life jacket.
• File a float plan: Boaters should always let someone know where they are going and when they expect to return.
• Dress for cold water: The correct clothes can keep you comfortable, extend your season and save your life. In cold conditions, dress in layers of clothing that will retain body heat when wet and outer layers that repel water. Avoid cotton which stays wet and does not retain heat. Consider the use of a wet or dry suit.
• Safety gear and equipment: Make sure your safety gear and communication equipment are maintained, charged and working properly. Both Connecticut and federal law require a sound-producing device onboard all vessels.
• Maintain a proper lookout:  Boaters should be especially vigilant when they get out on the water at this time of year to look for and avoid floating debris such as damaged docks and logs that may be floating downstream and into Long Island Sound.
• Following proper maintenance procedures: Before heading onto the water, boaters should ensure all vessel maintenance is up to date and fire extinguishers are not expired. Accidents involving onboard fires or taking on water are generally a springtime occurrence.