RCMP release name of drowning victim

RCMP have released the name of the man who drowned in Kalamalka lake.

Gary Rolf Roos aged 47, of Lake Country, he leaves behind two young children.

At about 7:30 yesterday evening a Vernon family was boating on Kalamalka Lake and noticed an empty boat.

They investigated and discovered the body of an adult male near the boat. A life jacket was found floating close to the body.

Police investigators aren’t sure if Roos was wearing the life jacket, but didn’t have it fastened properly, or if he managed to grab it when he went overboard and was unable to get it on.

Roos’s body was recovered and brought to the Kekuli Bay boat launch, where his truck was later located.

Vernon Search and Rescue searched the area until dark and determined there were no other victims.

RCMP have determined that Roos was alone on the water at the time of the accident. Police and the Coroner’s Service are investigating the incident.

Vernon RCMP spokesperson Gordon Molendyk says this is the first boating related death of the year in the North Okanagan