A B.C. mother on Sunday visited the site where her son drowned in August.
Michelle Tomas said her 13-year-old son, Ivan, drowned at North Beach in Golden Ears Park on Aug. 22.
“It’s hard. It brings back all the pain and sadness. That day (my) joy suddenly turned into deep sorrow,” she told Global News.
Her family was enjoying the day at the beach with another family when some of the kids decided to wade into the water, the mother said. The last time she saw her son alive, he was at the water’s edge.
“As parents, you keep on them watching them and just a minute, probably taking pictures or looking on the other side … he was gone,” Tomas said. “All I saw was his Crocs floating in the water. I can’t understand how it happened.”
The mother then frantically called 911. Her husband and several bystanders dove into the water to find Ivan. One of the bystanders spotted the boy in the water 20 feet down. He was not able to pull him out due to mud, the mother said.
Tomas said the beach does not have adequate signage warning people of the dangers of the area.
“There should be a life preserver here, a rope, a buoy, or a sign that says there’s a drop-off,” she said. “It is hard to understand why there are no signs of precaution. This is not a secluded spot, lots of people come to swim here.”
The B.C. Ministry of Environment offered a statement through email.
“Our thoughts go out to the family and friends who continue to grieve a terrible loss,” a spokesperson said.
“BC Parks will be investigating our water safety signs for the entire park this fall by identifying areas to expand and improve signage where needed.
“BC Parks encourages people to stay within designated swim areas whenever possible.”
The ministry said BC Parks will be working with the BC Coroners Service on any investigation and recommendations.
The BC Coroner Service said it is investigating a death in that area on that date, but due to privacy laws it cannot release information related to the identity of the decedent.
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