SORRENTO — RCMP are confirming a drowning death in Shuswap Lake near Sorrento on Sunday afternoon.
Chase RCMP received a call around 1 pm about a man who had fallen out of his boat 30 metres from shore. He was not wearing a life jacket.
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The man’s wife witnessed the accident and called for help. A retired RCMP sergeant, and former dive team member, was in the vicinity and pulled the man from the water within minutes.
Even though CPR was performed, and Emergency Health Services arrived on scene a short time later — the victim could not be revived.
The victim has been identified as 74 year old Gene Bretecher of Sorrento.
Bretecher was well known as a top notch banjo player, and was once named “Instrumentalist of the Year” by the Manitoba Association of Country Artists. The BC Coroners service is investigating the incident.
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