Bodies of snowmobilers found in Lake Simcoe

Bodies of snowmobilers found in Lake Simcoe

The search for two missing snowmobilers ended in tragedy today after two bodies were recovered by evening.

Nearly six hours after the body of William Cameron was found around 3 p.m., police recovered the body of Stephen Docherty just metres away.

Police, who were joined in a search by family and friends of the two men, found the first body and spotted two snowmobiles in the water.

York Regional Police say Stephen Docherty, 43, and William Cameron, 40, set out at about 12:30 p.m. yesterday to go for a snowmobile ride.

Police said both residents of Georgina were experienced snowmobilers and were dressed appropriately for the weather. They were last seen headed for Lake Simcoe.

Charlotte Docherty, the wife of one of the missing men, said today that the community has rallied around them.

“All my friends are out (searching),” she said. “ I have a lot of support from my friends and family. We have lived here a lot of years and the whole neighbourhood. . .

"We're just praying."

Docherty called the disappearance of her husband and his friend “bizarre.” Both men are experienced snowmobilers and have intimate knowledge of the area and trails, she said. They have been friends for more than 17 years.

She said that when her husband didn’t return in time for dinner, she and her two children, 14 and 12, bundled up and began to search along the shores of Lake Simcoe with some of their friends.

As time crept on, they decided to call the police.


“Around 9 p.m., they were declared missing by one of their wives,” said Const. Marina Orlovski.

“The family had already been out looking for them with friends and neighbours. When they couldn’t find them, they called us.”

In a massive search and rescue effort, a command post was set up at Virginia Beach. A helicopter and hovercraft swept the lake, joining officers on ATVs and snowmobiles.