The father of a teenager who tragically drowned at Sandpoint Beach in Windsor is taking legal action against the City of Windsor, seeking $5 million in damages. Abed Al Torkmani, 15, lost his life on May 18, 2025, while swimming with a friend at the beach’s western section.
Mohammed Al Torkmani, Abed’s father, recently filed a lawsuit in Ontario Superior Court of Justice, alleging that the city’s negligence played a role in his son’s death. The lawsuit contends that the city’s safety measures, including signage and buoy systems, were inadequate and contributed to the tragic incident.
The City of Windsor has not yet responded to the lawsuit, stating that they do not comment on ongoing legal matters. The lawsuit asserts that Abed entered a known hazardous area with strong currents and undertow, and the city failed to properly warn or restrict access to that part of the beach, creating a false sense of security for swimmers.
The legal claim argues that the city’s negligence directly led to Abed’s drowning and death. It further highlights that this incident is the ninth drowning fatality at Sandpoint Beach since 1986. In response to these events, Mayor Drew Dilkens proposed significant changes to the beach layout in 2022, which were approved by the city council in January 2025.
Following the tragedy, the City of Windsor closed the beach for swimming pending a coroner’s investigation, as recommended by the coroner’s report to conduct a safety audit at the beach.
