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Sarnia footballer remembered after drowning at The Cove
September 9, 2026
The Independent
The Sarnia Football Club is paying tribute to one of its members who drown over the Labour Day weekend.
Monday, Sarnia Fire Rescue’s Marine Unit was called to The Cove near Canatara Park around 3 pm for a possible drowning. People on ski-doos, boats and sail boats aided Sarnia Fire, Point Edward Fire, fire and police departments from St. Clair, Michigan and The Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary in the five-and-a half hour search for the swimmer’s body. The young man was not identified by first responders.
But in a post Tuesday, Sarnia FC identified one of their Men’s Competitive players, Ochard Campbell, as the swimmer who drown at The Cove.
“‘Ocho’ was a valued member of the Sarnia FC Men’s Competitive family for the past three years,” the team wrote in a social media post. “While he was an outstanding soccer player, he was so much more than that — an incredible person, teammate, and friend whose presence and character touched everyone around him.
“We will always remember his huge smile whenever he greeted us on the pitch. That smile, his energy, and the person he was will stay with us forever.”
Campbell was also remembered by Lambton College, where he was part of the Lion’s team.
“Equipped with the friendliest of smiles, an infectious energy that drew everyone in and made them feel welcome, and a love for the game of soccer and the talent to go with it, ‘Ocho’ was a member of our Men’s Soccer Program for two seasons… More than just a talented soccer player, Ochard was as genuine as they come. He was a standup member of our Lambton College community, and the Sarnia-Lambton community as a whole.”
The club has cancelled all Sarnia FC Men’s matches scheduled for this week.
A GoFundMe has been established for Campbell’s family which can be found here: https://gofund.me/e93b9cde2
Campbell was one of three people who drown in Lambton County over the Labour Day weekend. You can read more here: https://petrolialambtonindependent.ca/2026/09/08/calls-for-better-water-safety-training-after-three-weekend-drownings/
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