It’s been a deadly weekend on B.C.’s lakes and rivers.
Two young men drowned in separate incidents Saturday, one near Victoria and another in Keremeos.
A young man was swimming in Thetis Lake at around noon when he disappeared under the water.
Witnesses were able to pull him from the lake and attempt CPR until emergency crews arrived.
The man was taken to Victoria General Hospital in critical condition, but later died.
Keremeos RCMP and the BC Coroners service are investigating after another young man drowned while rafting in the Similkameen River.
The 19-year-old was floating down the river with friends when he fell off his raft and didn’t surface.
Swift water technicians were able to recover his body. His identity has not been released.
There have been 43 drownings in B.C. this summer, up from 25 at this time last year.
Earlier this month, the BC Coroners Service and the Vancouver police issued a warning for British Columbians to be extremely cautious around lakes and rivers after a spike in water-related deaths.
Officials said due to warm weather and snow melt, B.C. rivers are running faster, deeper and colder than previous years.
Comments