Drowning in West Quebec

Tragic Accident at Tisonagan Lake Lodge

Carl Hager

OTTER LAKE: An accident occurring August 1 on Lac Shingwok at Tisonagan Lake Lodge took the life of thirty-one year old Cobden, Ontario resident, Cody Murphy while he was fishing with a friend. The exact cause of the accident has not been determined.

Cody leaves behind a spouse and two young children. Funeral services were held Monday, August 10 at the Fraser-Morris & Heubner Funeral Home in Cobden. Murphy was a regular customer at the lodge often coming three or four times per season to fish.

Tisonagon Lodge is celebrating its twentieth anniversary this year since Martin Leduc and Danielle Marchand bought it in November 2006. They are dedicated outdoor enthusiasts and have made constant improvements to the accommodations, road, and boats. “We are even having an all-summer fishing tournament to mark the occasion,” Martin Leduc, co-owner of the lodge, told the Journal.

Leduc came across the accident while guiding clients fishing for lake trout. Leduc said that there were no witnesses to the accident. “It appears that neither men were wearing life jackets and the engine’s kill switch was not attached. Speculation is that the boat suddenly veered throwing both men into the cold water of the lake. The survivor made it to shore about 400 feet away.

Because the kill switch had not been activated, the boat kept moving away from the men, making it impossible for them to use it as a flotation device. Provincial police divers were called in to recover the body. We always urge our clients to wear flotation devices while fishing.”

“Our deepest condolences go out to the family. They were friends to us more than they were customers,” concluded Leduc.